The International Observatory on Academic Achievement - Documentary search

File number :
CS-APE-09e

Bibliographic reference :
Lemieux, V. (Éd.) (2002). L’étude des politiques publiques. Les acteurs et leur pouvoir. 2ème édition. Québec : Presses de l’Université Laval.

Abstract :

This book is primarily an introduction to the analytical principles of public policies involving players and their powers. The author does not address educational policies specifically, but tackles the issue from the political science viewpoint while enabling public policies to be better defined.

Public Policy Making Process
Lemieux divides this process into three phases: emergence, formulation and implementation. He stresses the nonlinear nature and interdependence of these stages. He also illustrates the connection between the implementation of a policy and its development by using the example of problems encountered during implementation that stem from the formulation phase. Therefore, sound management of a policy can lead to redefining some of its underlying bases.

Policy Definition
To varying degrees and depending on the stage studied, the policy making process can be influenced by these three approaches: problems, solutions, and political priorities. Similarly, public policies are not only natural responses to needs expressed in society, but they are also the products of action systems involving social players.

The author differentiates political players according to whether or not they are part of the government apparatus and according to the nature of some government resources. People in charge such as elected officials and their teams or administrative managers, along with officials including career bureaucrats make up a political apparatus, whereas stakeholders such as lobbyists, specialists and group representatives, along with individuals such as voters and the public at large make up non-political players.

The ability of a government apparatus to influence depends in part on the resources that it can mobilize to represent its interests in a given action system, including statutory (positions), leveraging (orders), human (workforce), material (support), normative (norms), relational (links) and informational (knowledge, expertise) resources.

Conclusion
This book could be helpful to anyone who is interested in educational policies and would like to understand how they work at the macrosociological level, i.e. in the broadest sense.

Key Words :
Public Policies, Social Players, Political Choices, Government, Emergence of Public Policies, Public Policy Assessment, Public Policy Formulation, Implementation, Power, Macrosociological View

Monitored Countries :
Quebec (Canada)