Introduction By arguing who the actor is to be responsible to fit into the position of social laws,

Deborah Stone begins her book, Policy Paradox, by stating, “a theory of policy politics must start with a simple model of political society, just as economics starts with a simple model of economic society.” Deborah Stone examines two policy-making models to describe the paradox’s of the process model for public policy. The two models include: the market (rational model) and the Polis (community) model. Stone states she contrasts these two models to “illuminate some ways the market model distorts political life.” As discussed in class, the market model follows five steps:

This article provides the audience with an adequately clear and convincing stance to explain what public policy is, and other academic literacy related to public policy, which included some famous theories. The main theme of this article is that public policy is intricate and no scholar can analyze any policies with one particular theory or model. In addition, the author argues that the public policy is multidimensional and it influences every citizen’s life profoundly.

The policy cycle suggested by Althaus, Bridgman and Davis consists of a continuous wheel which nominally begins with the task of 'identifying issues ' and progresses through 'policy analysis ', 'policy instruments ', consultation ', 'coordination ', 'decision ', 'implementation ' and 'evaluation ' before beginning the cycle again (Althaus et al 2013: 37-40). The authors admit that policy rarely actually follows this model sequentially in the steps outlined above and is really meant as more of a guide to good policy, rather than an evaluation of actual practice (Althaus et al 2013: 40-42).

Policymaking is a political process which is affected by various social and economic factors (Hofferbert, 1974) and media systems play an integral role in shaping the social context in which policies are developed. Through the media, citizens learn how government policies will affect them, and governments gain feedback on their policies and programs. Media systems act as the primary channels between those who might want to influence policy and the policymakers '' controlling the scope of political discourse and regulating the flow of information. Textbook policymaking follows an orderly sequence where problems are identified, solutions devised, policies adopted, implemented, and lastly evaluated (Mazamanian & Sabatier, 1989). In reality,

This paper is a review of chapter’s one (1), two (2) and three (3) in Thomas A. Birklands (2016) fourth edition regarding policy process. The reading attempts to define and show what is meant by policy process, how government, politics and the public are intertwined, problems that are associated with the policy process and how we address the problems. Current day events as well as past history are applied to the practice of policy process which assists in defining the process and highlighting its connection and importance. Thomas A. Birklands refers to the Clinton administration, the Obama administration and the George W. Bush administration, the DARE Program, World War II, and the Vietnam War, in the chapters and leads us down a path discussing

Deborah Stone compares the market and polis models of policy making with the intent to show that the original origin of the public policy discipline was to be grounded in a practical science, economics, but to also show how and why the economic approach to policy making has significant limitations. Stone is arguing against the view that policy decision making is rational decision making. Deborah Stone’s main reason for comparing the two models of policy making is to identify and critique the simplistic assumptions that have been used in the market and rationality project. Stone is attempting to point out the paradox that exists between the two because the two models are evidently contradictory, the market being ground in rationality and the polis being based on emotion. Stone compares the two policies in order to show that economics cannot be solely used to understand policy making because the two are fundamentally different. She also points out that policy is made in a political society and because of this the polis model seeks to explain public policy as it actually happens in reality since the field and study of public policy was created to allow government to make decisions that would best benefit their citizens.

In this assignment I am going to analyse how government policies are developed, covering all aspects of the policy making process.

A Narrative Policy Framework for public policy offers insight into why policy changes can occur (Jones & McBeth, 2010), even when data is incomplete. In order to understand why policies change we must understand the stories, images, and symbols that surround an issue. Public opinion is not always changed by policy details, but is often influenced by narratives. The telling of a compelling story can be among the most important aspects of mobilizing support for a cause (Smith & Larimer,

The rational models of policy process are compromising a mechanical process in policy making. Theoretically, the models are helping managers of public sector to manage policy issues by using rigid components of procedure that likely use in laboratory. It means the administrators in public sector will follow some sequences, such as gathering important values that related with policy issue, examining the possible outcomes of policy issue by rating those important values that already established, and then he or she will try to make a decision on what is the best policy. The steps are continuing repeatedly in the same condition. The particular characteristics of the models are having valid data, reliable information and managers

Agenda Setting “The agenda-setting theoretical model claims that media exposure and the emphasis of certain attributes of the topic can increase the public salience of the topic and those emphasized attributes” (Fortunato, Abstract, 2008). This theory focuses clearly on how the media effects our everyday lives. With this theory media sources share information about a topic they want to push and get everyone talking about. Author of the journal NFL Agenda-setting states that theory can increase public salience of the topic (Fortunato, 2008).

Policy evaluation goes through a series of questioning of how the policy identified and implemented the desired effect and the possibility of modifications to produce efficiencies. For example, during an evaluation, data collected is in constant use from previous monitoring. In monitoring, emphasis is placed on results and processes that are derived from procedural implementation. These two overarching components of a policy constantly work together to form any type of adjustments needed for policy effectiveness and efficiency (Capturing Experience Monitoring and Evaluation, 1988).

Understanding the background and history of the Agenda Setting Theory is imperative to this analysis. Dr. Max McComb and Dr. Donald Shaw developed the Agenda Setting Theory in a study conducted during the 1968 presidential election (McCombs & Shaw, 1972, p. 178). This study describes how if an audience is exposed to the same media, they will place importance on the same issues. This theory strictly presents information and sets the terms of public discourse. At the time, this was a trailblazing new idea.

Throughout times, democracy has emerged as the best political way to rule a country. Within democratic systems, citizens have to vote for people who will represent them in the decision-making system. The question that John Kingdon wanted to understand in his writing of How Do Issues Get on Public Agendas? is how the legislative process and the public policies are made. John Kingdon well illustrates the processes by which an issue becomes policy issue, named the Cohen-March-Olsen, and the coming together of three processes. In the Cohen-March-Olsen, Kingdon proposed three stream: problem-recognition, policy stream of proposals and political stream.

Government policy can be described as the declaration that defines the objective of the priorities and goals of the government. Since these policies outline the rules, role, and procedures, they develop a framework in which the government and its citizens can carry out their specific duties. The public policies are created by all governmental levels and target the entire population or particular groups. The process of developing these policies involves the engagement of governmental officials and citizens. On the other hand, politics of government provide the platform for the development, establishment, and implementation of public policy. Therefore, the politics of government are the platform with which public policies are adopted and implemented.

Models, theories and concepts as approaches for analysing policy and decision making have been developed by political and social scientists to guide the study of public policy, to facilitate communication and to suggest possible explanations for policy actions. This essay is a critique of the relevance of the systems model to the study of politics.