Definition of Public Policies

The politics Public refers to the activity of the Nation-State, whose purpose is to ensure order, through the governance, promote socio-economic progress and, finally, provide solutions to the 'social question', that is, reduce the conflict or project the equality Social.

Public policies involve government positions assumed by state agencies (parliaments, presidents, government agencies, listed companies, etc.), who act on behalf of the State, in relation to the public agenda. This agenda is made up of socially problematic issues and, based on this, the rulers define the object and the modalities of their actions.

Identify the context

Public policies are not isolated reactions and decisions. On the one hand, they respond to a particular socio-historical context in which a social demand manages to be made visible and identified as a problem to be solved. This entails a complex multi-stakeholder interaction. On the other hand, the deployment of a public policy occurs in stages that interact with each other, but each one has its own participants, constraints, decisions, developments, and outcomes specific.

This process is called the "public policy cycle" and consists of different interrelated phases. These are: the definition of the problem and the design, implementation and evaluation. In other words, there is a beginning cycle, a life cycle and a final cycle that feed into each other.

The public policy cycle

1.- Definition of the problem

To disaggregate this, it should first be noted that due to the very structure of the State, its means and government positions not all social demands can be satisfied at the same time. On the other hand, not all problems are equally problematic or valued by the State or other groups that try to influence to achieve its benefit In order to reach this sphere, first, a social demand must be transformed into a “socially problematized ”. This is mainly given by the social movement and it implies the visibility of a demand on the national agenda (that is, the issues that concern the country) and, based on this, it may (or may not) be addressed by the government at that time. And, at the same time, there is the autonomous state capacity to define the problem outside of social demands. Then, in a detailed way, the cycle begins with a diagnosis and the identification and construction of a dimension to be solved.

2.- Design of public policy

Once the problem is defined, it is necessary to develop possible action plans to neutralize it. Designing different solutions means determining how state institutions will act or not based on the problems encountered. It should be noted that public policies tend to use tools that, in the face of public problems, do not offer an absolute solution. That is, they are located in the resolution plane. Addressing the social question described requires long-term social and cultural changes and programs that include systematic intervention.

3.- Implementation of public policy

For its part, the implementation of a policy is a stage in which actions and effects are generated from normative guidelines or speeches. Basically, it means implementation, execution, orientation and / or management based on the action plan designed in the previous stage. However, this is not linear. In the first place, the intervening and affected actors do not remain neutral or passive. Second, the content of a public policy is conditioned by changes in the institutional framework, in the resources, in the constellation and games of the mentioned actors, directly involved in the stage in question.

4.- Evaluation of public policy

Regarding the evaluation phase. This includes determining the results of government actions, identifying and measuring their impact in areas specific to social life and the physical environment, as well as the fulfillment of the objectives proposed in its design. The information resulting from this stage is essential to promote management control, feedback, learning and the innovation, with a focus on public value.

Bibliography

- Aguilar Villanueva, L.F. (2009). Framework for the analysis of public policies. In F. Maríñez Navarro and V. Garza Cantú (Coords). Public policy and democracy in Latin America. From analysis to implementation. Mexico DF: EGAP-CERALE-Miguel Ángel Porrúa.

- Meny, Y. and Thoenig, J. C. (1992). Public policies. Barcelona: Ariel.

- Oszlak, O. (2006). State bureaucracy and public policies. Postscript, Number 11, pp. 11-56.

- Oszlak, O. and O'Donnell, G. TO. (1981). "State and state policies in Latin America". Document G.E. Clacso, N ° 4.

Topics in Public Policy