Policy-Makers 1

SHOULD POLICY-MAKERS LISTEN TO POLITICAL THEORISTS?

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Should Policy-Makers Listen to Political Theorists?

Introduction

Policy makers should not rely on political ideologies in the policy making process. This

paper seeks to discuss the relevance of political theorists in the policy making processes.

According to study by Bal, the policies should define the politics. Moreover, Baldridge presents

his findings in an article titled Policy Making and Effective Leadership.” In this book, he

persuades the politicians to rely on a defined system of policies that are aligned. The same

concept was iterated by Lindblom in article entitled “The policy-making process.” Political ideas

are essential in empowering the community interventions and identification of development

projects. They also spearhead the achievement of the community projects with reference to the

policies.

Roadmap

The thesis of this paper is that policy-making process should not rely on political theory.

From an intensive examination of the various texts on political theory, this paper uses the

philosophical background and the underlying issues to facilitate policy-making process

(Campbell 2017). Policies play a critical role in shaping the political background. In this regard,

the political theory is a reflection of the gaps that the society can identify based on a careful

evaluation of the existing policies. They play a significant role of identifying the gaps. However,

the resolutions are addressed through a well-defined policy formulation process since it entails a

number of steps.

Discussion

Policymaking process entails legislation from universal policy guidelines. The policy-

making process is conducted by different team political ideologists. However, the concepts rose
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by the theorist's help in setting foundation for the policy development. The academic and

political background provides the facts and experiences to ensure the process responds to the

challenges the public face. A number of the political ideologies do not exhibit any level of

prejudice. In this regard, the policymaking process ought to be independent from the complete

reliance on the political analysts (Dolowitz and Marsh 2016, 23). A political policy should entail

consulted efforts via various media platforms, interviews and surveys to examine the ideas that

would help solve the existing gaps. The experience shared is used as comprehensive guidelines

by the team of policymakers.

In addition, the policy formulation process is more diverse and extensive as compared to

the political theory owing to the fact that the policies may entail an issue that is beyond politics.

It exposes a gap in the extent to which the political group can solve the gaps in the policy-

making process. For instance, a case of farmers, trade or medically related policies requires the

expert opinion and this puts off the political theorists (Campbell 2017). In such situations, the

contributions of the political theorists are partial on the policy formulation. The leaders are

expected to seek the technical and managerial knowledge of the ideal challenges in an effort to

give a policy that solves them. The political theorists at this moment would give a different point

of view where the information may be determined for self-interests. Academicians also give a

broader view of the scenario to explain some basics in relation to the policy formulation

processes (Macpherson 2012, 26). At times, the consensus ways help in decisions making

(Campbell 2017). A broader approach to policy formulation recommends that the team use a

well-defined process. Consequently, the leaders ought to comply with the set of regulations and

expectations of the policy generation process (Gray 2014, 4). All nations and global
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organizations base the policy formation with a gap. The political scope is a one-sided approach

and may not exhaustively handle the entire requirements in all the policies.

The previous studies and surveys indicate that the insights from political class are

essential but not completely dependable. Policy guidelines have to exhibit realistic approach. All

the concepts have to abide by the human rights, global expectations and articulate all the relevant

tenets in the society (Parekh 2016, 119). In response to this requirement, the process ought to be

the independent and meaningful inclusion of the experts’ opinion would be more essential in

creating a successful policy. The lessons that the complex cases pose may act as backgrounds for

the subsequent policies. Analysis from the experts gives the ideal gaps and the compliance with

the other policies requires international academic and social overview (Lindblom 2012, 35). On

the other hand, the beneficiaries of the policy should meet the expectations, desires and goals. A

policy must not be biased, partial or exclusive for the relevant team (Cohen and Arato, 2014, 6).

Policy formulation entails a diverse inclusion of insights that various teams may

recommend. A study by the United Nations recommended that policy formulation have to be

regulated to ensure comprehensive engagements. From this suggestion, it draws the borderline

on the independence of the process to give an extensive view of the situation (Campbell 2017,

13). The leaders may form part of the consultants. However, the policy process ought to be

systematic where the civil servants and teaching groups need to be actively engaged to reduce

biasness, increase accuracy and create an achievable framework. The study also recommends

that the objective s of all policies should be within a national framework (Howlett, Ramesh and

Perl, 2015, 14). International organizations, government, public domain and private groups are

expected to express the interest in defining the ideal gaps and ensuring that the policy process is

gradual but accurate. This process should be gradual to allow adequate time for evaluation and
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consultation. A comprehensive approach to these challenges would give a lasting solution to the

various team players (Kingdon and Thurber 2014, 169). The realistic approach is a gauge that

helps in setting a straightforward decision. It calls for experts to minimize the revisions, errors

and to achieve completeness (Campbell 2015, 17). It is recommended that the relevant teams

create a workable schedule to line-list the anticipated goals.

Policymaking systems within which the organizations are embedded entail reflection to

ensure there is certainty in the entire processes. Political theorists offer their opinions based on

the theoretical background. However, the situations such as the economic change, technologies

are diversely unpredictable. In this regard, a visionary view of the policy guidelines should be

based on the anticipated future resolutions and not earmarked by the past (Ball 2012 16).

However, the solutions to this challenge are a collective responsibility to offer suggestions for

the future. It is possible to associate the liberal theories of democracy with the increasing

achievement of democratic nations and subsequently sensitive policies. The governments may

have resolved to pursue the democratic approach based on the interventions posed by the

experienced people on the political theory (Dror 2017, 7). Political education gives a limelight

on the various alternatives that define the policy-making process. Most of the leaders trained in

political science are skilled in handling the diverse issues that entail decision-making and policy

formulation. Baseline training ensures that the policies under their watch are refined to ensure

the leadership is well defined.

Anti-Thesis Statement

However, the role played by the political theorists is very essential in the policy making

process. Philosophers have always played a significant role in the policy formation in the past.

They subject the issues under a careful scrutiny and from a legal perspective. Policymaking is
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therefore associated with an element of academic inclusivity (Lowi 2014, 677). Theoretical

concepts are built from a legislative ground where the leadership roles determine the policy

process that one is supposed to initiate. Moreover, there exists uncertainty about the efficiency of

the services based on the political knowledge. Philosophers give guidance on the best

mechanisms to undertake policy formulation. The process is therefore well defined. However,

the content of all the policies may not be generated from the political scientist since the

situational analysis differs (Baldridge 2017, 23). The relevant group ought to delegate the roles

of policy formation to a political scientist and engage them through adequate provision of the

objectives that aspire (Morrow 2014, 30). The scientist would have the ability to give a

conclusive response to the team based on the articulated order. The elements are well included

and a baseline assessment of the policy completes can be done.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is worth noting that political theories play a role in the policy

formulation despite the shortcomings that limit the overreliance. It is clear that political

knowledge creates a pool of knowledge on the basic concepts that a policy entails. However, the

ideas may be generated differently based on the objectives of the policy. In this regard, there is a

need for articulating the relevant groups at various levels of the policy formulation. International

organizations require that policies ought to abide by the international human rights and offer the

democratic right to all. Finally, diversity in the roles has to be well propagated to ensure

completeness, accuracy and relevance of the policies.

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References

Baldridge, J.V., 2017. Policy Making and Effective Leadership: A National Study of Academic

Management: 23.

Ball, S.J., 2012. Politics and policy making in education: Explorations in sociology. Routledge:

67.

Campbell, T., 2017. Justice: Issues in political theory: 13.

Campbell, T., 2015. Rights: A critical introduction. Routledge: 17.

Cohen, J.L. and Arato, A., 2014. Civil society and political theory. MIT press: 6.

Dolowitz, D.P. and Marsh, D., 2016. Learning from abroad: The role of policy transfer in

contemporary policy‐making. Governance, 13(1), pp.5-23.

Dror, Y., 2017. Public policy making reexamined. Routledge: 7.

Gray, J.M., 2014. Evidence-based policy-making: 4-7.

Howlett, M., Ramesh, M. and Perl, A., 2015. Studying public policy: Policy cycles and policy

subsystems (Vol. 3). Oxford: Oxford University Press: 14.

Kingdon, J.W. and Thurber, J.A., 2014. Agendas, alternatives, and public policies (Vol. 45, pp.

165-169). Boston: Little, Brown.

Lindblom, C.E., 2012. The policy-making process. Prentice-Hall: 35.

Lowi, T.J., 2014. American business, public policy, case-studies, and political theory. World

politics, 16(4), pp.677-715.

Macpherson, C.B., 2012. The political theory of possessive individualism: Hobbes to Locke: 26.

Morrow, J.D., 2014. Game theory for political scientists (No. 30: 519.83). Princeton University

Press: 30,
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Parekh, B., 2016. Rethinking Multiculturalism: Cultural diversity and political

theory. Ethnicities, 1(1), pp.109-115.