Sociology of Public Policy
Revision Guide
Based on the key concepts and learning objectives
*This includes week 1 – 5
as week 6 is excluded from this years exam
We would love to hear if this was helpful for you <3
,Table of Contents
Week 1 – Public Sociology and the Social Construction of Policy Problems ................. 3
Burawoy's four ideal-typical roles for sociologists in addressing policy problems ............... 3
How harmful conditions become recognised as social problems ....................................... 4
Public arena model ............................................................................................................ 4
Public policy production (discreet and less visible spaces) ................................................ 6
Week 2 – Political Discourse and Agenda Setting in Public Policy ................................. 8
Agenda-setting .................................................................................................................. 8
Regulatory capture and its implications for policy solutions. .............................................. 9
Policy enactment (objectivist v constructivist perspectives) ..............................................12
Rhetorical Tricks ...............................................................................................................13
Discreet forms of framing social problems and public policies ..........................................14
Scientists in regulatory capture and their influence on policy formation ............................15
Week 3 – Citizenship Rights, Social Welfare and Surveillance .......................................16
Marshall's modernization theory regarding the development of citizenship rights. ............16
Marshall's sequential development theory: guest workers ................................................17
Critiques of social citizenship and counterarguments .......................................................18
Impact of austerity measures on social citizenship ...........................................................20
Michael Mann's concept of 'despotic' and 'infrastructural' power. ..................................20
Michel Foucault's notions of 'regimes of power' and 'securitarian dispositifs' ................21
How austerity measures undermine Marshallian citizenship rights................................22
Week 4 – Welfare Regimes and the Commercialization of Citizenship...........................22
Social citizenship rights within welfare states. ...................................................................22
Welfare regimes approach and the 'welfare triad'. ............................................................23
Social rights as a form of 'decommodification' ..................................................................25
How feminist critiques influenced Esping-Andersen's approach: 'defamilisation'. ..............26
Neoliberal public policies aiming to recommodify society ..................................................27
Week 5 – Measuring and Comparing Policies ..................................................................29
Methods used to measure public policies in welfare states ...............................................29
The significance of quantification in policy analysis and decision-making. ........................30
The impact of quantification on society .............................................................................31
The use and potential abuse of statistics ..........................................................................31
Alternative approaches to quantifying policies: expenditure analysis. ...............................32
The advantages and disadvantages of expenditure analysis ............................................34
,Week 1 – Public Sociology and the Social
Construction of Policy Problems
Understand the potential roles of sociologists in shaping public policies and
addressing social problems: Burawoy's four ideal-typical roles for sociologists
in addressing policy problems
1. Professional Sociology (for academic peers)
This is about doing research and building knowledge within sociology. Think of
it as laying the groundwork by studying society and developing theories based
on evidence.
2. Policy sociology (for policy makers)
These sociologists work on practical solutions to real-world problems. They
might advise governments or organizations on how to address social issues
based on research findings.
3. Public sociology (for citizens and the public)
Public sociologists aim to make sociology accessible and relevant to everyone,
not just academics. They engage with the public through things like writing
articles or working with community groups to address social concerns.
4. Critical Sociology (self criticism of peers)
Critical sociologists question the assumptions behind existing research. They
challenge established ideas and push for new ways of looking at social issues.
While each type of sociology has its own legitimation, accountability, and politics, they
ultimately complement each other in contributing to the vitality and relevance of the
discipline. The success of public sociology, in particular, relies on sociologists
recognizing its importance and actively engaging with broader publics beyond
academia.
Instrumental knowledge is focused on solving specific problems or puzzles. In
sociology, it includes the technical aspects of professional and policy sociology aimed
at addressing particular issues.
Reflexive knowledge engages in a dialogue about the goals and directions of
research and society. It involves critical reflection on the foundations of research
programs and the societal implications of academic work.
Academic audience Extra-academic
audience
Instrumental knowledge Abstract inaccessible
knowledge → peers
Professional Policy
Reflexive knowledge Relevant knowledge
accessible for a wider
audience → public
Critical Public
, To avoid an anomic division of labour (anomie) — a state of disconnection and
normlessness within the discipline — sociologists should strive for an organic division
of labour. This means fostering interdependence among various specializations to
create a cohesive and collaborative intellectual environment, mirroring the transition
from a mechanical to an organic division of labour in broader society.
Mechanical division of labour: Sociologists working on similar issues with minimal
differentiation and collaboration.
Organic division of labour: Sociologists specializing in different areas and methods,
working together and relying on each other's expertise.
Explore how harmful conditions become recognized as social problems
requiring policy intervention (realist/objectivist vs. constructionist)
Realism/Objectivism
From this perspective, social problems are seen as real, objective issues that exist
independently of what people think. They're social ills, caused by how society is
structured and how it changes over time. When a lot of people are affected by these
problems, the government and other institutions usually step in to fix them. We often
hear about these problems through the news and from politicians.
Constructivism
Here, social problems are thought of as more subjective—they're not just "out there"
but are created by how people see and talk about them. They're like debates or
controversies about things that might be harmful. These issues get attention and
become problems when certain people, like activists or the media, bring them up and
make a big deal about them. When enough people start caring about these problems,
that's when policies and laws are made to try to solve them. So, it's not just about the
problem itself; it's also about who's talking about it and why.
So, in simple terms, realism says problems are real and out there, while constructivism
says problems are created and shaped by society's views and discussions.
Examine the process described in Hilgartner and Bosk's article, focusing on the
competition among different social problems for policy attention (public arena
model?)
Social issues: a putative condition or situation that is labelled a problem in the arenas
of public discourse and action. Research Mobilisation Theory: issue entrepreneurs
are individuals or groups (e.g., social movements, NGOs, lobbyists) who advocate for
particular issues.
Hilgartner and Bosk outline a model called the "Public Arena Model," which aims to
understand the process through which social problems gain attention and evolve in
society. Let's examine the key components of this model:
Revision Guide
Based on the key concepts and learning objectives
*This includes week 1 – 5
as week 6 is excluded from this years exam
We would love to hear if this was helpful for you <3
,Table of Contents
Week 1 – Public Sociology and the Social Construction of Policy Problems ................. 3
Burawoy's four ideal-typical roles for sociologists in addressing policy problems ............... 3
How harmful conditions become recognised as social problems ....................................... 4
Public arena model ............................................................................................................ 4
Public policy production (discreet and less visible spaces) ................................................ 6
Week 2 – Political Discourse and Agenda Setting in Public Policy ................................. 8
Agenda-setting .................................................................................................................. 8
Regulatory capture and its implications for policy solutions. .............................................. 9
Policy enactment (objectivist v constructivist perspectives) ..............................................12
Rhetorical Tricks ...............................................................................................................13
Discreet forms of framing social problems and public policies ..........................................14
Scientists in regulatory capture and their influence on policy formation ............................15
Week 3 – Citizenship Rights, Social Welfare and Surveillance .......................................16
Marshall's modernization theory regarding the development of citizenship rights. ............16
Marshall's sequential development theory: guest workers ................................................17
Critiques of social citizenship and counterarguments .......................................................18
Impact of austerity measures on social citizenship ...........................................................20
Michael Mann's concept of 'despotic' and 'infrastructural' power. ..................................20
Michel Foucault's notions of 'regimes of power' and 'securitarian dispositifs' ................21
How austerity measures undermine Marshallian citizenship rights................................22
Week 4 – Welfare Regimes and the Commercialization of Citizenship...........................22
Social citizenship rights within welfare states. ...................................................................22
Welfare regimes approach and the 'welfare triad'. ............................................................23
Social rights as a form of 'decommodification' ..................................................................25
How feminist critiques influenced Esping-Andersen's approach: 'defamilisation'. ..............26
Neoliberal public policies aiming to recommodify society ..................................................27
Week 5 – Measuring and Comparing Policies ..................................................................29
Methods used to measure public policies in welfare states ...............................................29
The significance of quantification in policy analysis and decision-making. ........................30
The impact of quantification on society .............................................................................31
The use and potential abuse of statistics ..........................................................................31
Alternative approaches to quantifying policies: expenditure analysis. ...............................32
The advantages and disadvantages of expenditure analysis ............................................34
,Week 1 – Public Sociology and the Social
Construction of Policy Problems
Understand the potential roles of sociologists in shaping public policies and
addressing social problems: Burawoy's four ideal-typical roles for sociologists
in addressing policy problems
1. Professional Sociology (for academic peers)
This is about doing research and building knowledge within sociology. Think of
it as laying the groundwork by studying society and developing theories based
on evidence.
2. Policy sociology (for policy makers)
These sociologists work on practical solutions to real-world problems. They
might advise governments or organizations on how to address social issues
based on research findings.
3. Public sociology (for citizens and the public)
Public sociologists aim to make sociology accessible and relevant to everyone,
not just academics. They engage with the public through things like writing
articles or working with community groups to address social concerns.
4. Critical Sociology (self criticism of peers)
Critical sociologists question the assumptions behind existing research. They
challenge established ideas and push for new ways of looking at social issues.
While each type of sociology has its own legitimation, accountability, and politics, they
ultimately complement each other in contributing to the vitality and relevance of the
discipline. The success of public sociology, in particular, relies on sociologists
recognizing its importance and actively engaging with broader publics beyond
academia.
Instrumental knowledge is focused on solving specific problems or puzzles. In
sociology, it includes the technical aspects of professional and policy sociology aimed
at addressing particular issues.
Reflexive knowledge engages in a dialogue about the goals and directions of
research and society. It involves critical reflection on the foundations of research
programs and the societal implications of academic work.
Academic audience Extra-academic
audience
Instrumental knowledge Abstract inaccessible
knowledge → peers
Professional Policy
Reflexive knowledge Relevant knowledge
accessible for a wider
audience → public
Critical Public
, To avoid an anomic division of labour (anomie) — a state of disconnection and
normlessness within the discipline — sociologists should strive for an organic division
of labour. This means fostering interdependence among various specializations to
create a cohesive and collaborative intellectual environment, mirroring the transition
from a mechanical to an organic division of labour in broader society.
Mechanical division of labour: Sociologists working on similar issues with minimal
differentiation and collaboration.
Organic division of labour: Sociologists specializing in different areas and methods,
working together and relying on each other's expertise.
Explore how harmful conditions become recognized as social problems
requiring policy intervention (realist/objectivist vs. constructionist)
Realism/Objectivism
From this perspective, social problems are seen as real, objective issues that exist
independently of what people think. They're social ills, caused by how society is
structured and how it changes over time. When a lot of people are affected by these
problems, the government and other institutions usually step in to fix them. We often
hear about these problems through the news and from politicians.
Constructivism
Here, social problems are thought of as more subjective—they're not just "out there"
but are created by how people see and talk about them. They're like debates or
controversies about things that might be harmful. These issues get attention and
become problems when certain people, like activists or the media, bring them up and
make a big deal about them. When enough people start caring about these problems,
that's when policies and laws are made to try to solve them. So, it's not just about the
problem itself; it's also about who's talking about it and why.
So, in simple terms, realism says problems are real and out there, while constructivism
says problems are created and shaped by society's views and discussions.
Examine the process described in Hilgartner and Bosk's article, focusing on the
competition among different social problems for policy attention (public arena
model?)
Social issues: a putative condition or situation that is labelled a problem in the arenas
of public discourse and action. Research Mobilisation Theory: issue entrepreneurs
are individuals or groups (e.g., social movements, NGOs, lobbyists) who advocate for
particular issues.
Hilgartner and Bosk outline a model called the "Public Arena Model," which aims to
understand the process through which social problems gain attention and evolve in
society. Let's examine the key components of this model:
