Understanding State Models, Policy Instruments, and Cognitive Resources

This document outlines three models for understanding the state, explores policy instruments, and defines cognitive resources in the context of public policy.

Three Models of the State

The first model, from a pluralist perspective, views the state as a window accommodating various social demands.

The second model sees the state as an instrument for a specific social class or group.

The third model emphasizes the distribution of power among actors and the organization of sectoral interests.

Policy Instruments

Effective policy implementation relies on several key instruments:

• Legal Rules: These rules, established by public authorities, define activities that constitute policies.
• Personnel Services: Policies require dedicated personnel services and a robust human infrastructure.
• Material Resources: Financial resources are particularly crucial.
• Persuasion: Persuasion is effective when the government is seen as a legitimate expression of the majority's interpretation of general interests.

Limitations of the Cyclical Model

The cyclical model offers a descriptive perspective, but it can sometimes be misleading. The chronological development of policies doesn't always follow a linear progression. This approach should not be used to establish a causal model of public policies by identifying logical connections between stages. The cyclical model is rooted in a legalistic interpretation of public action. It is important to go beyond sequential analysis and consider simultaneous or incomplete cycles.

Cognitive Resources Defined

Cognitive resources encompass the knowledge related to technical, social, economic, and political rights concerning a collective problem. This knowledge is the raw material of public policy, containing elements essential for its proper conduct.

Relational and Interactive Remedy

This action is based on the use of organizational rules. It is a resource built from individual actors' attributes, the quality of administrative structures, associations, and the interaction between different actors in public policy.