Politics

Government policy-making model

Knowledge article on government policy


Dr. Mohanad Al-Azzawi
USPA NEWS - The making and formulation of government policies is a complex process. It requires policy-makers, whether governmental, semi-governmental or individual, to take into account the strategic orientations emanating from the highest directions, on the government track and the work of the authorities, as well as the thematic axes and context of implementation of the interim strategic objectives and plans as a practical basis in the making and formulation of public policies, as well as adherence to the constitutional framework and the governing laws governing the interactions and transactions of government.
Functions of the Government Program
The government program is the operational basis for all state institutions, which includes a number of policies related to political orientations, where policy development teams adapt trends with specialized axes to determine the policy associated with them. Policy, initiatives and executive procedures are formulated. For the future and the opportunities involved in these opportunities should be invested or problems should be sought to find possible alternatives to them, The increasing role played by the State to secure its sovereignty and achieve development in all its fields requires its institutions to promote the following functions: :

1. Defending the state and its political borders and preventing armed manifestations outside the state
2. Stability of security and ensuring the continuity of the authorities without obstacles
3. Formulating new government policies that cope with political, economic and social changes
4. Prospecting and exploring future requirements according to the strategic directions of the State
5. Formulate government policies that deal with interim events that require a separate effort
7. Deal with crises, emergency problems and emergency treatment.
8. Research and study the community demands related to the lives of people and society
Formulation of public policies is one of the complex processes in which the stages and ideas overlap and employ them to come out with effective results and alternatives after analysis, scrutiny and decision. Drafting perhaps one of the most prominent stages of policy development is:

1. Preparatory phase: Guidance ““ Preparation team ““ Information
2. Policy analysis
3. The intellectual output and the agreement on the recommendations or the most important and important path and presented to the decision-maker
4. Decision
5. Commencement of implementation
6. Formulation of final policy
7. Issue the policy as a document
8. Follow-up and evaluation of implementation
9. Recommendations for the need for another policy
There are several methods and models used in government policy making and vary due to the different strategic environment, political system, state and strategic directions, notably:
1. Process Model:
The policy is developed through a series of steps or stages, and several stakeholders are involved at different stages. In the operational model, policy-making begins by identifying the problem and by requesting government intervention, which naturally leads to the agenda phase, followed by the development of multi-stakeholder policy proposals (Political parties, legislative committees, civil society, research centers, competent groups, interest groups). This stage leads to policy selection according to the context of policy analysis and is decided upon and adopted. The selected policy is then legislated before it is implemented by government departments, I t is being evaluated after some time has passed, that this descriptive model is relatively accurate and the most critical criticism is that it is simplified, although policy-making is in fact a more complex process because of the factors that influence overlapping and repetitive phases. This model requires consensus and agreement between the poles of policy-making on the problem and alternatives offered and any appropriate alternative to be agreed upon to be adopted as a policy.
2. The Rational Model:
A method of conduct suited to the achievement of specific objectives within the limits imposed by specific circumstances and constraints. In its model, policy analysis is carried out in order to reach rational decisions through a five-stage process that includes: data collection and organisation, problem identification, assessing the consequences of policy interventions, Values “‹“‹and criteria, the choice of the preferred option with interest groups, and is described rationally because of the process in which policy-making is carried out and the mature and rational analytical frameworks consistent with policy-making standards are consistent with the ideal school.
3. Progressive Model:
This model is contrary to the rational model because the political and societal reality is difficult to achieve the ideal and rational aspect. Given the time and resources constraints, it is impossible to consider more than a few policy options that can be implemented politically and economically. Realism, and often uses the method of fragmentation of problems and the dismantling of obstacles and crises, which requires the treatment of each file separately or allocate different resources, making the overall deal is not on the table, so policy makers follow this model:
4. Institutional Model:
The more widely used model, governments adopt policy-making and policy formulation based on strategic directions, and the basic principles adopted in making, evaluating and re-launching policies. Here, it is the government that draws policies without non-governmental participation, depending on the country´s strategic environment and its political and economic realities.
It is difficult to choose a model that applies entirely to the problem or demand in policy making, because of the different environment surrounding the government and its real outputs and the form of strategic variables, as well as the values “‹“‹and fundamentals of the state, which requires adaptation to the formation of a successful policy and different From one country to another, because of the different strategic environment from one country to another, as well as the form of political systems and the form of governance, all these factors affect the selection and use of the appropriate model in the process of government policy-making.
It is necessary to consolidate the fundamentals of the state and public policies of the government, and to consolidate the preparation and formulation appropriate to the strategic environment, especially as a number of countries in the world are heading to the phenomenon of failed states and corrupt by corruption despite the availability of resources and experts, but the decision and the will to change are absent.

Sources:

1- Muhannad Al-Azzawi, the work program of the government and state institutions. Prioritization and Competitiveness
2- European Training Foundation. Policy Analysis Manual
3- Abdel Fattah Al-Yaghi, General Policies Theory and Practice ““ 2009

* Dr. Mohanad Al-Azzawi
* Head of Saqr Center for Strategic Studies and Research,Strategic Expert
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