Drug and Environmental Policy, Essay Example

Drug policy and the eight models of politics

The drug policy is a drug control policy which is law enforcing. Institutional model is where the institutions in politics influence public policy. The political institutions give legitimacy of policies. The government usually applies drug policy on all citizens. The branches of government, which give drug policy legitimacy, are the judiciary, legislature and executive. Thus, these government institutions influence the drug policy by giving it legitimacy.

Related to the process model, the drug policy undergoes various steps (Birkland 20). First is the problem identification and the need for government action. Second, follows policy proposals’ formulation by parties such as think tanks and congressional committees. Third, policy legitimating, which means policy selection and enactment. Fourth, the drug policy undergoes implementation and finally policy evaluation. However, this makes the drug policy simple and linear.

Elite model shows interests of people in the society who are powerful and not the demands and wishes of the masses. Drug policies following the elite model tend to be non-inclusive and are hard on many people. The rich, who consist of politicians and influential businesspersons, have their interests considered.

In a group model, the role of political systems seeks to introduce and enforce compromise on varied conflicting society interests. A drug policy that bases on group model is inclusive and considerate through entrenching the needs of various groups.

Drug policy and the rational model consider rationality in decision-making. This means making of logical, sound decisions in the public sector policy-making. Rationality refers to behavior style necessary to achieve certain goals (Buse, Mays and Walt 72). The drug policy has linked crime to drug abuse, which may not be the case. Thus, policies on drug abuse linked to crime may not be the best approach. Rational model makes assumptions such as the government a rational, unitary actor, which performs rational choices.

Game theory understands what makes up a rational action course in cases where others’ responses influence outcomes. Policy makers have discovered a smart approach on a new research generation, which applies insights from game theory to criminal justice system. Although still a new concept, drug policy makers are pointed towards new and transformative ways.

Incrementalist policy models recognize the complexity of policy-making process (Birkland 20). It gives room for greater interest roles in debates of policy-making, emphasizing many information sources, which press on policy-makers. A drug policy through incrementalism will tend to consider many sources of information realizing that policy-making process is complex. The systems model in policy vies the “system” of drugs, as complex and that common are unintended results of interventions. At the strategic level, we can view drug policy as a resource allocation problem having resources across pragmatic areas to maximize some function of social welfare.

Environmental policy and the eight models of politics

The environmental policy in relation to institutional model has the influence of various institutions including the government and non-governmental institutions. Non-governmental organizations such as environmental movements lobby to influence congress in policy-making (Dunn, Hisschemöller and Hoppe 29). Environmental policies from this model may be sound owing to the influence of other parties and not only government. The process model of environmental policy involves problem identification, setting of agenda, policy formulation, implementation and evaluation. This shows how decision-making occurs and how it should occur.

In group theory, the central aspect of politics is the interaction among groups. Here, through common interests, people come together. Thus, environmental, public policy   based on group theory is equilibrium and arrived at via a group struggle (Dunn, Hisschemöller and Hoppe 30). This policy type considers group interests and tends to be inclusive. The elite theory is where we have the elite shaping mass opinion because people are ill informed and apathetic. A resultant environmental policy through elite model does not show real needs of the people. Elitism sees the masses as easily manipulated and passive. The rational model seeks to achieve maximum social gain. In this case, the policy should not come with costs exceeding gains. Environmental policy through rational model ensures that the negative impacts are fewer than the positive impacts on society. However, for this to be so, decision-makers should know values of the society, alternatives and results of alternatives.

Incrementalism model views the environmental policy as a continuation of activities by past governments only with small alterations. The government is conservative as it considers existing policy a base while ignoring new programs. Environmental policies from incrementalism may not bring any changes and prevailing environmental problems my not find a solution. Game theory is a deductive and abstract model in policymaking. This is where we have rational decisions study, where one choice relies on another choice’s outcome. Applying this model in environmental policy may lead better policies than in the past. Systems theory considers public policy because of the political system. Political system refers to interrelated structure groups, which allocate society values. The interrelated structures influence environmental policy, and in most cases, the resultant policy is considerate of various interest groups.

Works Cited

Birkland,  A. Thomas.  An Introduction to the Policy Process: Theories, Concepts, and Models of Public Policy Making. 3rd ed. Armonk, NY:  M.E. Sharpe, 2010. Print.

Buse, Kent , Mays, Nicholas and Walt, Gill . Making Health Policy. Maidenhead, UK: McGraw-Hill International, 2012. Print.

Dunn, William, Hisschemöller, Matthijs and Hoppe, Rob.  Knowledge, Power and Participation in Environmental Policy Analysis. Piscataway, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers, 2001. Print.