Project: Part 3: Analysis of a Policy As an astute social worker and professional policy advocate, once you have selected and identified a social problem, you begin the process of creating and impleme

Agenda Building in Policymaking

SummerLove Holcomb

SOCW 6361

Instructor: Terri Lewinson

07/01/2020

Persons living with disabilities are amongst the vulnerable groups in our communities. The development of social projects that focus on them is essential so that they may have purposeful lives despite their predisposing conditions. The social projects are formulated around policies laid out by the government or other non-governmental organizations whose mandate is helping the disabled in the society (Anderson, 2014). Formulation of these policies calls for the structuring of strong agendas. Frequently, the establishment of agendas comes first in the practice of policymaking. A well-constructed agenda translates to a successful policy proposal development process. Also, there is a high probability of succeeding when putting forward a matter to a decision-maker when it includes well-thought-out and constructed agendas. Therefore, an effective agenda building is paramount (Jansson, 2018). A guide to policymaking is via the Kingdon model. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the Kingdon model in policymaking.

John Kingdon is a political scientist who put forward a model that is a guideline for policymaking. Kingdon proposed that policy change emanates from three specific streams. For the policymaking to be effective, these three streams have to connect. The streams are problems, politics, and policies. In the model, Kingdon outlines the independence that exists between the three streams. Even though they run independently, merging the three is crucial for an effective policy development process (Kingdon & Stano, 1984). A good policy emerges from a fusion of the three streams. This fusion does not happen just out of the blue but from a persistent and supported action by the advocates. Problem stream is a situation that is regarded as a problem. Policy stream refers to the options that can be materialized. Political stream focuses on the politicians. The stream talks on the effort politicians are willing to put in place to bring about a policy change (Kingdon & Stano, 1984). In my own opinion, I think that the policy stream is a precise reflection of how and why policies are formulated. This is because it outlines the structuring and actualization of the policies.

A matter of contention is that some issues gain privilege when it comes to problem solution and political streams. I agree with this kind of assertion. This is because certain kinds of issues are in line with political interests; therefore, the matter will get to be prioritized. This also involves bodies that have their interests included in the solving of societal problems.

For a given issue to find its way into decision agendas, policy practitioners combine various strategies coupled with the three Kingdon’s streams. Decision agendas imply agendas of a meeting or committee. These strategies constitute a framework. These tactics include diagnosing the situation, softening the situation, and activation of a change (Jansson, 2018). In the diagnosis of the situation, the practitioners have to select an issue from a sea of issues that poses a challenge in society. Under softening the situation, it involves modifying the issue at hand so that it can be easily understood, and appropriate measures needed to handle it. Activation of change involves policy entrepreneurs. They take the specified issue and set it as a decision agenda. This step happens when priority is given to the matter by an individual or a group of people for it to be deliberated systematically. After the point of decision agendas, deliberations pertaining to policies follow where it is inspected carefully for enactment or done away with.

In conclusion, policy formation is a vital component in the world that is changing fast. This does not only involve boardrooms where the policies are business-based but rather in our societies, especially helping the most vulnerable, the disabled in particular. It calls for the active participation of the politicians in government and other supporting bodies or individuals to bring about changes in our societies that will be of significance in the lives of the disabled. The politicians and everyone involved must be willing and have the ability to cause a policy change.

Reference

Anderson, J. E. (2014). Public policymaking. Cengage Learning.

Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social

justice. (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.

Chapter 6, "Committing to an Issue: Building Agendas" (pp. 176-203)

Kingdon, J. W., & Stano, E. (1984). Agendas, alternatives, and public policies (Vol. 45, pp.

165-169). Boston: Little, Brown.