THE INTELLECTUAL

FOUNDATION OF
PUBLIC POLICY
Maria Fe Villamejor-Mendoza
University of the Philippines
2020
Outline
• Public Policy in the USA
• Public Policy in the Philippines
• Prospects and Constraints
PUBLIC POLICY IN THE
USA
The Seed
• Charles Edward
Merriam, Professor of
Political Science,
University of Chicago
and Yale; Secretary of
State Planning Body
Merriam’s View:
• Planning as an interdisciplinary policy science; it is not
just economic analysis, agricultural planning, war
rehabilitation and other specialized fields

• Avoid ‘screw driver syndrome’

Harold Lasswell
• PhD student of Prof.
Merriam at Chicago
• Professor of Law at
Yale University
• Father of Modern-day
Policy Science(s)
Lasswell’s Grand Dream
• A Policy Science which is a theoretically-oriented multi-
discipline, which is something different from or more than
applied social science or social engineering
• It is concerned with the fundamental problems of man; is
global in perspective; emphasizes the historical context of
policy; and stresses the study of change-diffusion,
invention and revolution
• It is a policy science of democracy serving democratic
values, academic theory building and revolution
Lasswell’s Vision of Policy Science(s)
• Concerned with ‘problem orientation” or of understanding
and solving the fundamental problems of man in society
and with explaining the policy or decision processes of
democracy through quantification and other methods of
analysis, contextualization and theory-building (Lasswell
1950)
The Plant and its Branches
• Synoptic Tradition- considers systems analysis as
metatheory; statistical empiricism as methodology;
optimization of values and efficiency as a deciding
criterion; and policy as a science (Garson 1980-81)
• Anti-Synoptic advocates pluralism as metatheory;
contextual and case analysis as methodology; social
rationality as a deciding criterion; and policy as an art and
craft (Miller 1984)
• Neo-Pluralist Reaction- goal of policy science is not
toward developing a policy science of democracy; it is in
developing a logic of policy inquiry that is geared towards
preparing a cadre of professional experts (policy analysts)
who can provide supportive researches to policy makers
(Dunn 1981; Coleman 1972; Campbell 1971)
• As handmaids, policy science exists to help policy makers
arrive ar a more enlightenced decision
• Knowledge is not for theory building but for improvement
of social policy
• Design Science- a collective enterprise using systematic
and empirical inquiry, which may either be quantitative
and qualitative, in the pursuit of enlightenment (Simon
1969)
• The goal is to improve public sector performance; bridge
the aim of getting things done and being scientists (Miller
1984)
• Naturalistic Inquiry-focuses on natural than experimental
setting to comprehend reality that is constructed, multiple,
holistic and sometimes existing only in the minds of
individuals (Lincoln and Guba 1985)
• Empirical, objective policy science is impossible;
insulating policymaking from politics is a dream
Debates
• Is Policy a Science or an Analysis?
• Policy Science as a vast field concerned with the causes and
consequences of public policy (Dye 1971)
• Policy Analysis involves the description, analysis and explanation
of the causes and consequences of governmental activity
(Anderson 1975); finding out what governmentss do, why they do it
and what difference does it make (Dye 1971)
• it Policy Studies or Policy Sciences?
• Policy Studies is a movement that came about as a call for active
orientation of social sciences, psychology, public administration,
economics and other disciplines to the solution of policy issues and
problems (Ocampo 1978)
• Study of the causes and effects of government decisions in dealing
with social problems (Nagel 1987)
• Is it a branch of Political Science or Public Administration?
(Henry 1989, Policy Science in Twilight Zone)
• Political Science deals with the content, politics, intellectualized
understanding of public issues
• Public Administration deals with the political economy,
organizational theory, implementation and evaluation of public
policies
• What Roles do Policy Scientists Play (Weimer and Vining
1994)
• Objective Technician-provides objective (unbiased) advice about
the consequences of proposed policies
• Client Advocate-gives analytical advice but professionally acts to
serve the client
• Issue Advocate- provides advice in line with their advocacy towards
their concept of what is good for the society
Controversial Commentaries
• A Temporary Fad or Stale Material
• Too Practical or Too Theoretical
• Too Multi-disciplinary or Too Narrowly-Focused on
Political Science
• Too Quantitative or Too Subjective
• Too Under-utilized or Too Over-utilized
• Too Conservative or Too Liberal
Some Agreements
• A new perspective on political and social phenomena
• An inter-disciplinary perspective across all fields of
knowledge
• A scientific field concerned with the normative question as
to the good of the society
• Based on a mix of theory and practice; political science,
public administration and other disciplines;
• Inherent subjectivity and potential objectivity; liberal and
conservative uses (Nagel 1987)
Hogwood and Gunn’s Model of Policy
Science (1984)
• Hogwood and Gunn’s Model of Policy Sciences (1984)
PUBLIC POLICY IN THE
PHILIPPINES
• Romeo B. Ocampo,
Professor of Public
Administration and
Public Policy, and former
Dean of the NCPAG,
University of the
Philippines
• Father of Philippine
Policy Science(s)
The ‘Trigger”
• Alongside a compelling respect for science and a felt
need for sustained interest, inquiry and advocacy for
reforms in the society in the context of Martial Law when
the expanding scope and authority of the government,
and the widening array of programs and projects it has
launched to accelerate national development worried
many Filipinos (Ocampo 1978, 1991)
• The need to go beyond administrative tinkering and
technocracy (which sublimates politics into the
administration of things) and put public policy at the center
of things
The Development
• Technology of Policy Studies on policy content, processes,
outcomes, effects and advocacy
• Creation of the Policy Studies Program at UP CPA through the
Ford Foundation Grant
• Re-tooling of faculty and staff on Policy Science
• Introduction of the PPPA field of specialization at the MPA
• Conduct of policy researches (malnutrition, ESIA-WID, etc.)
• Capacity building of the bureaucracy on policy analysis,
research
Spill Over
• Adoption of the ASPAP of PPPA in their MPA programs
• Participation in policy trainings by the College
• Creation of Policy Think-tanks in the country, e.g., IEDR at
UPSE, DAP, PIDS, Ibon Data Bank, CIDS, AIM, PBSP
• Journals in policy, e.g. Policy Studies by CIDS
• Textbooks and Working Papers on Public Policy
• Dissertation on Policy questions (regulation ,
policymaking, etc.)
• Creation of the Philippine Public Policy Network (PPPN)
FUTURE AND PROSPECT
Mature in the USA and Elsewhere
• Institutionalization of MPP and other academic offerings in
Public Policy
• Creation of Policy Think Tanks and Networks all over the
world
• Policy journals and books in Public Policy
In the Philippines???
• Academic offering in the PA programs of NCPAG and
other schools; possible MPP in NCPAG as in LKYSPP,
NUS?
• Policy think tanks and networks; future of PPPN?
• Transformation of policymaking in the Philippines to
evidence-based?