The Societal Sources of Public Policy: A Review of Concepts and Their Applications

Authors

  • Pisanu Sangiampongsa Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61462/cujss.v51i1.687

Keywords:

Public policy, conflict, social problems, group competition, public opinion, the public interest

Abstract

This paper delineates societal sources of public policy.  Primarily, conflicts among individuals and groups make public policy necessary to handle such conflicts.  Certain social conflicts involve the environment, signaling the need for public policy.  Groups compete to actualize the policies of their desires.  Public policy is also needed to deal with social stratification and inequalities as a consequence of social stratification systems.  Social problems are also significant in configuring public policy.  Yet, they are subtle and changeable as well as perceived differently among the public.  Problem and issue definitions are instrumentally used in the pursuit of certain policy directions over others.  Values and ideas lie within the perceptions of social problems.  Some values and ideas dominate the definition of social problems and determine the direction and content of public policy.  Lastly, while public opinion and the public interest can be distinguished from each other, they both exert influences on public policy.

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Published

06-09-2022

How to Cite

Sangiampongsa, Pisanu. 2022. “The Societal Sources of Public Policy: A Review of Concepts and Their Applications”. Chulalongkorn University Journal of Social Sciences 51 (1). Bangkok, Thailand:7-30. https://doi.org/10.61462/cujss.v51i1.687.

Issue

Vol. 51 No. 1 (2021): January - June

Section

Research Articles

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