What is a theory
- It is an explanation of why things happen the way they do.
- They are created from abstract reasoning on basis of empirical observation
Characteristic of a theory
- It is predictive and useful to scientific understanding of a field.
- A good theory is parsimonious as it “explains a lot with a little”
What it the purpose of theories of public policy
- Simplify and clarify our thinking about government and politics.
- Identify important political forces in society.
- Communicate relevant knowledge about political life
- Direct inquiry into politics
- Suggest explanation for political events and outcomes.
What is the difference between positivist and normative theory
- Positivist theories do not prescribe moral imperative –attempt to explain politics as it is. They also don’t have any explicit poltical interest
- Normative theories justify some sort of action on grounds of moral imperatives associated with theory.
List the theories we are focusing on
- Marxism
- Institutionalism
- Pluralism
- Public Choice
What are the elements of marxism
- Division of society into classes. With one’s class determined by relationship to means of production.
- Pre-eminence of for explaining political conflict
- Inequality of classes
- Bias of the state in favour of the dominant class
Types of policy under marxism
1) Legitimation
- Reduce interclass conflict
- Provide subordinate classes with benefits to reduce dissatisfaction with capitalist inequality
2) Accumulation
- Directly support profit-oriented business activity
Why is Marxism important for public policy
- Because it focuses on interaction of economic, social, cultural factors. Paying attention to those who benefit and also highlights inequality
- It provides tools for explaining policy variation across space and time
Problems with Marxism
- Falsifiability: Accumulation and legitimation policy support marxist theory
- Reductionist: it describes all policymaking as resulting from class struggle and downplays agency of individuals.
- Normatively: It doesn’t improve well-being .
What are institutions
They are rules and procedures (both formal and informal) that structure social interaction by constraining and enabling actors’ behaviour
What does the institutionalism theory say about public policy
- It says institutions matter more than anything else in explaining outcome
- Policy outcomes determined by structures of the state itself
- Institutions frustrate attempts at change.
- Study involves assessment of federalism, Parliament, cabinet, bureaucracy, court.
Problems with institutionalism according to Cairney
-We may not know what an institution is
-Many approaches to institutionalism
-We may not agree what institutions do
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Elements of pluralism
- Sees public policy as an open competition among interest group
- Groups are main unit of analysis. Individuals can achieve goals by joining other with similar goals
- Groups form to influence behaviour of government
- Openness: : Groups enter and exit w/o structural barriers
- Policy reflects group’s influence.
Implication of pluralist model
- State is democratic, however ruled by the elites but responsive to public demands
- Unit of analysis: individuals and (especially) organized group
- Ideas are major policy determinants
What is Neo pluralism
It is a form of pluralism that accepts business has privileged position in policy considerations
Problems with pluralism
- Assumes level playing field however Neo pluralism tries to address this issue
- Ignores power differentials for individuals and groups.
- Ignores state as actor in its own right and only focuses on input
Elements of public choice theory
- Application of economics to politics
- Rational choice theory: Utility maximization: political actors (including bureaucrats) self-interested
- Self-interest is the most important factor
What are the elements of the state in public choice
- They act in self interest
- Politicians seek to get elected and stay in power.
- Bureaucrats seek to control other organization, expansion with increased budget, and career advancement.
Problems with public choice theory
- Simplistic definition of individual self-interest
- Not as neutral as it claims: values fundamentally liberal
- Ignores limits and biases of human cognition as taught by cognitive psycholog
Jurisdiction of the institutions of government under the Liquor policy
- Prov Government: import, Control and distribution of alcohol
- Fed Government: ): Amend IILA, up to prov
- Supreme Court: ): IILA no longer required to restrict interprovincial trade
What is an elements of Ontario’s liquor policy
- Two authorities w/ separate functions:
- AGCO: Regulatory agency for licensing, regulation, and enforcement
- LCBO: Crown corporation w/ monopoly on wholesale, importation, distribution
Elements of the Liquor License and Control Act
- Passed by the Ford government since 2019
- Pandemic slowed this policy down
