Discuss the three streams Kingdon has identified where problems originate, and provide your opinion on which one most accurately reflects how and why policies come about.
Kingdon identified three sources of problems that originate; the problem, policy, and political stream. The problem stream, for instance, starts as a problem in the public domain gone viral. There are a lot of problems in the public. However, once in a while, a particular problem will catch the attention of many, resulting in the creation of policies to mediate them. Most of the time, policies derived from the problem stream come out of emergencies, followed by long media coverage or social media conversations ( Alcayaga et al., 2016; Jansson, 2018) . For instance, the different cases of police brutality against African Americans is a problem stream gone viral.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
On the other hand, the political stream is often initiated by politicians or during changes of administrations (Larkin, 2012). For instance, new political streams are created to show they are doing what they promised during the campaigns with the election of new presidents. Furthermore, politicians leaving office usually leave legacies in the form of policies they implemented. For instance, the Affordable Care Act is the legacy of former president Barrack Obama. However, politicians criticizing it are more likely to call it Obamacare than the actual legislation.
Finally, the policy stream is the existence of a solution that is ready to be adopted. According to Atupem (2017), the policy stream is different from the other two streams because selecting a solution is not based on influence, power, or external pressure. Instead, the ideas to be acted upon are extensively discussed by the experts, and only the most effective solutions pass. The policy stream is also the only stream where solutions are selected on their merit and not because they satisfy an external force. Personally, the policy stream is how most policies come about. One of the disadvantages of the policy stream is very slow; implementing a solution because extensive tests have to be conducted. However, the other streams have their utility. For instance, the problem stream is useful in pointing out which problems require immediate attention.
Discuss the assertion that certain kinds of issues receive preferential treatment in problem solutions and political streams.
The assertion that certain kinds of issues receive preferential treatment in the problem solution and political streams is true. In the problem solution streams, preferential treatment occurs because the issue has caught the most treatment, and delaying any solution would do more harm than good. Therefore, the immediately available solution is more likely to be implemented, hence receiving preferential treatment over the set of solutions, even the most appropriate. Preferential treatment in the political stream, on the other hand, comes about because politicians enter office with their agendas that supersede the rest, even those of their predecessors. Therefore, they are more likely to focus on their agendas, political, and personal interests than deal with other problems.
Discuss tactics that policy practitioners use within each of the three streams to increase the odds that a specific issue will be placed on decision agendas
In the political stream, policymakers are more likely to select specific problems to pay attention to and find solutions by gathering feedback from a particular political party group. In the problem stream, the policymakers are more likely to select a solution with the largest following as it would quickly settle the crisis that brought the problem to attention. Lastly, in the policy stream, policymakers will select the most effective solution then sell it to the stakeholders t increase its odds of being placed on decision agendas.
References
Alcayaga, R. L., Fernandez, D. P., & Quirland-Lazo, C. (2016). THE JOHN KINGDON’S “POLICY STREAMS” APPROACH: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING A RISK SHARING AGREEMENT PILOT DESIGN BY FIRST TIME IN CHILE. Value in Health , 19 (3), A295-A296.
Atupem, G. (2017). Applying John Kingdon’s Three Stream Model to the Policy Idea of Universal Preschool.
Jansson, B. S. (2018). Becoming an effective policy advocate: From policy practice to social justice. (8th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning Series.
Larkin Jr, P. J. (2012). John Kingdom's Three Streams Theory and the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1966. JL & Pol. , 28 , 25.
