SOCIAL WORK AND MANAGEMENT ›› 2022, Vol. 22 ›› Issue (3): 92-100.

• SHEHUI ZHENGCE • Previous Articles    

Contextualism Framework of Social Policy Issues: Politics, Situational Interaction and Meta Governance

LI Bing, CHANG Shuo   

  1. Beijing Population Development Research Center, Beijing Municipal Party Committee School, Beijing, 100044, China
  • Received:2021-11-21 Online:2022-05-15 Published:2022-06-06

Abstract: Contextuality is one of the three basic attributes of policy sciences, paying attention to the influence of changing social reality on the decision-making model. Political characteristics of contextualism have an impact on policy subjects’ judgment and definition of policy issues. They also determine the fundamental possibility that the issue itself will be a policy agenda to be discussed. Contextual action theory focuses on the setting of policy agenda and major problems in policy evolution. While contextual interaction theory involves the interaction of multiple subjects at the level of policy implementation and differences among subjects in resources and information. Besides, contextual governance emphasizes the basic ability of government departments to select policy tools and solve policy problems. Contextual analysis will be applied to grassroots governance and other key areas, which helps identify fundamental political attributes in the policy process and analyze the interactive relationship among multiple participants. In these ways, specific methods can be put forward to optimize policy tools application.

Key words: social policy, contextualism, politics, situational interaction, meta governance

CLC Number: 

  • C916
[1] HAROLD D. LASSWELL The emerging conception of the policy sciences[J]. Policy sciences, 1970, 1(1): 1-12
[2] ROSNOW, RALPH L. Contextualism and understanding in behavioral science[J]. The journal of nervous and mental disease, 1988, 176(8): 516-517
[3] CHANDRAN KUKATHAS. Contextualism reconsidered: some skeptical reflections[J]. Ethical theory and moral practice, 2004, 7(2): 215-225
[4] BREWER GARRY D. A pre-view of policy sciences: HAROLD D LASSWELL[J]. Technological forecasting and social change, 1973, 4(4): 423-424
[5] DOUGLAS TORGERSON. Contextual orientation in policy analysis: the contribution of HAROLD D LASSWELL[J]. Policy sciences, 1985, 18(3): 241-261
[6] YOUNG, RICHARD A. An action approach to career counseling. ERIC digest.[J]. Career awareness, 1995, 7(4): 1-17
[7] 李兵. 中国社会规划的特点和改进方向[J]. 社会政策研究, 2021(2): 13-30
[8] ELKE BRENDEL, CHRISTOPH JÄGER. Contextualist approaches to epistemology: problems and prospects[J]. Erkenntnis, 2004, 61(2/3): 143-172
[9] ABDALLAH, SALAM. Unravelling methodologies: a theory building approach [EB/OL]. [2020-05-01]. https://espace.curtin.edu.au/bitstream/handle/20.500.11937/287/16417_Abdallah%2C%20Salam%202005.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y.
[10] CHATAIGNER, PATRICE. A framework analysis of analytical frameworks [EB/OL]. (2017-09-02). https://www.sheltercluster.org/sites/default/files/170902%20Analytical%20Framework%20Review.pdf.
[11] LYSAGHT Z. Epistemological and paradigmatic ecumenism in “pasteur’s quadrant”: tales from doctoral research.[J]. Bulatlat, 2007, 36(28): 23-29
[12] BACHMANN M. The epistemology of understanding: a contextualist approach[J]. Kriterion (Austria), 2020, 34(1): 75-98
[13] KLEIN J T. “Advancing” interdisciplinary sstudies: the boundary work of integrating, complexifying, and professionalizing.[J]. Issues in Interdisciplinary studies, 2018, 9(36): 28-35
[14] SVETLANA NIKITINA. Three strategies for interdisciplinary teaching: contextualizing, conceptualizing, and problem-centring[J]. Journal of curriculum studies, 2006, 38(3): 251-271
[15] MURRAY, JEFF B, EVERS, et al. Theory borrowing and reflectivity in interdisciplinary fields.[J]. Advances in consumer research, 1989, 16(1): 647-652
[16] BARTLETT F C. The policy sciences: recent developments in scope and method[J]. International affairs, 1952, 17(3): 234-235
[17] PORTZ, JOHN. Problem definitions and policy agendas: shaping the educational agenda in boston[J]. Policy studies journal, 1996, 24(3): 371-386
[18] 李兵. 政策解释学和政策科学运动[J]. 行政论坛, 2021(4): 66-72
[19] PAINTER C. The oxford handbook of public policy, Michael Moran, Martin Rein and Robert E. Goodin (eds.)[J]. Public administration, 2009, 87(2): 412-416
[20] WILDAVSKY A , HOROWITZ L . The revolt against the masses: and other essays on politics and public policy[M]. New York: Transaction publishers, 2002: 135-139.
[21] POLLARD S. Labour, social policy and the welfare state (book reviews)[J]. Business history, 1998, 40(7): 24-32
[22] KREŠIMIR PETKOVIĆ. Deborah stone, policy paradox: the art of political decision Making[J]. Small leviathan, 2006, 1(1): 19-32
[23] SCHNEIDER, SAUNDRA K. INGRAHAM, et al. The impact of political participation on social policy adoption and expansion: a cross-national, longitudinal analysis[J]. Comparative Politics, 1984, 17(1): 107-122
[24] GREGG R, MURRAY. Our political nature: the evolutionary origins of what divides us[J]. Politics and the life sciences, 2016, 35(1): 545-547
[25] WALDRON P. Politics: the past and the future[M]. London: Blackwell Publishing Ltd., 2006: 19-27.
[26] ANYEBE, ADAM A. An overview of approaches to the study of public policy[J]. International journal of political science, 2018, 4(1): 8-17
[27] TROPMAN, JOHN E. VASEY, et al. The politics of policy[J]. Governance, 1999, 26(2): 193-195
[28] HUNTER, DAVID J. Evidence-informed policy: in praise of politics and political science[J]. Public health panorama, 2016, 2(3): 268-272
[29] MCLAFFERTY SARA. New strategic perspectives on social policy (book review)[J]. Annals of the association of American geographers, 1983, 73(2): 303-306
[30] SKOCPOL, THEDA, AMENTA, et al. States and social policies[J]. Annual review of sociology, 1986, 12(1): 131-157
[31] THANDIKA MKANDAWIRE. Social policy in a development context[M]. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004: 101-120.
[32] DOERN G, BRUCE. Public policy analysis: an introduction (book-review)[J]. Canadian public policy / analyse de politiques, 1988, 14(2): 183-184
[33] LUMEN LEARNING. Politics, power, and authority [EB/OL] . [2022-01-01]. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-sociology/chapter/politics-power-and-authority/.
[34] MAY, PETER J. Reconsidering policy design: policies and publics[J]. Journal of public policy, 1991, 11(2): 187-206
[35] JOSÉ F. DOMENE, VALACH L , et al. Action in counselling: a contextual action theory perspective[M]. New York: Springer, 2015: 91-93.
[36] YOUNG R A, VALACH L. Action and language: contextual action theory in counselling[J]. Psychologie Francaise, 2016, 61(1): 31-42
[37] ELBANNA, SAID, FADOL, et al. The role of context in intuitive decision-making[J]. Journal of management & organization, 2016, 22(5): 642-661
[38] JOHNS G. The essential impact of context on organizational behavior[J]. Academy of management review, 2006, 31(2): 386-408
[39] BRESSERS J T A . Implementing sustainable development: how to know what works, where, when and how [M]. London: Edward Elgar, 2004: 19-42.
[40] BRESSERS H. Contextual interaction theory and the issue of boundary definition: governance and the motivation, cognitions and resources of actors[J]. Journal of coordination chemistry, 2007, 1(1): 4-29
[41] OWENS, KATHARINE A, BRESSERS, et al. A comparative analysis of how actors implement: testing the contextual interaction theory in 48 cases of wetland restoration[J]. Journal of comparative policy analysis: research and practice, 2013, 15(3): 203-219
[42] ERVING GOFFMAN. Encounters: two studies in the sociology of interaction[M]. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1961: 96, 19, 80, 138.
[43] KNILL C , TOSUN J. Public policy : a new introduction[M]. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012: 92-94.
[44] UNGSUCHAVAL T. Transcending the institutionalist-interpretivist binary: realizing critical realist theory of governance as metagovernance[J]. Journal of government and politics, 2016, 7(4): 662-695
[45] WHITEHEAD, MARK. “In the shadow of hierarchy”: meta-governance, policy reform and urban regeneration in the west midlands[J]. Area, 2003, 35(1): 6-14
[46] BAKER K , STOKER G. Nuclear power and energy policy: the limits to governance[M]. London: Palgrave Macmillian, 2016: 182-191.
[47] BOB, JESSOP. The rise of governance and the risks of failure: the case of economic development[J]. International social science journal, 1998, 50(155): 29-45
[48] SØRENSEN, EVA. Metagovernance: the changing role of politicians in processes of democratic governance[J]. American review of public administration, 2006, 36(1): 98-114
[49] KOOIMAN, JAN, Jentoft, et al. Metagovernance: values, norms and principles, and the making of hard choices[J]. Public administration, 2009, 87(4): 818-836
[50] SØRENSEN, EVA, TORFING, et al. Making governance networks effective and democratic through metagovernance[J]. Public administration, 2009, 87(2): 234-258
[51] 习近平. 共产党打江山、守江山, 守的是人民的心[EB/OL]. (2021-05-16). http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2021-05/14/c_1127443941.html.
[52] 习近平在省部级主要领导干部专题研讨班结业式上讲话[EB/OL]. (2011-02-23). http://news.cntv.cn/china/20110223/111288.shtml.
[53] 习近平. 社会治理的重心必须落实到城乡、社区[EB/OL]. (2016-03-05). http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0305/c1024-28174494.html.
[54] 习近平. 决胜全面建成小康社会 夺取新时代中国特色社会主义伟大胜利——在中国共产党第十九次全国代表大会上的报告[EB/OL]. (2017-10-27). http://www.gov.cn/zhuanti/2017-10/27/content_5234876.html.
[55] 中共中央关于坚持和完善中国特色社会主义制度 推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化若干重大问题的决定[EB/OL]. (2019-11-05). https://www.12371.cn/2019/11/05/ARTI1572948516253457.shtml.
[56] 中共中央关于制定国民经济和社会发展第十四个五年规划和二〇三五年远景目标的建议 [EB/OL]. (2020-11-03). https://www.12371.cn/2020/11/03/ARTI1604398127413120.shtml.
[57] 中共中央 国务院关于加强基层治理体系和治理能力现代化建设的意见[EB/OL]. (2021-07-11). http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2021-07/11/content_5624201.htm.
[58] 中共天津市委十一届七次全会决议[EB/OL]. (2019-11-29). http://cpc.people.com.cn/n1/2019/1129/c64387-31480437.html.
[59] 天津市2021年政府工作报告[EB/OL]. (2021-02-01). http://www.tj.gov.cn/zwgk/zfgzbg/202102/t20210201_5343672.html.
[60] 关于进一步开展社区减负工作依法厘清居民委员会职责提升为民服务效能的意见[EB/OL]. (2020-12-11). http://mz.tj.gov.cn/ZWGK5878/ZCFG9602/zcwj/202012/t20201211_4862973.html.
[61] 天津市委制定印发《关于全面加强城市基层党建工作的意见》[EB/OL]. (2017-10-11). http://dangjian.people.com.cn/n1/2017/1011/c117092-29580624.html.
[62] 加强全市基层居民组织自治能力建设的12条措施发布[EB/OL]. (2021-07-25). http://www.tj.gov.cn/sy/tjxw/202107/t20210725_5517318.html.
[1] Richard M.Titmuss, MA Xiaoting, LIU Jitong. Social Policy and Economic Progress [J]. SOCIAL WORK AND MANAGEMENT, 2021, 21(6): 70-77.
[2] Richard M.Titmuss, LI Huiyu, LIU Jitong. Choice and the “Welfare State” [J]. SOCIAL WORK AND MANAGEMENT, 2021, 21(6): 78-84.
[3] ZANG Leizhen, CHEN Nuo. Disciplinary Construction of Social Policy: A Review of International Development and Outlook in China [J]. SOCIAL WORK AND MANAGEMENT, 2021, 21(2): 85-94.
[4] FANG Wei, WANG Yuting. Evidence-based Practice and Its Enlightenment on Social Policy Development and Research in the New Era of China [J]. SOCIAL WORK AND MANAGEMENT, 2019, 19(3): 89-95.
[5] PENG Ling-Ling. Social Coordination: Path Selection of the Institutional Social Development Strategy [J]. SOCIAL WORK AND MANAGEMENT, 2015, 15(3): 45-50.
[6] XIANG De-Ping, LIU Xin. Building Diversified Antipoverty Policy:
Effective Connection between Rural Minimal Social Security System
 and Poverty Alleviation and Development Policy
[J]. SOCIAL WORK AND MANAGEMENT, 2014, 14(3): 54-61.
[7] LIN Ka-1 , WANG Zhuo-Qi-2Zhu, AN Chao-Ying-1Yi. Social Policy and Social Order in East Asia:
An Interpretation from the Evolutionary Perspective
[J]. SOCIAL WORK AND MANAGEMENT, 2014, 14(3): 62-69.
[8] GUAN Xin-ping . Towards Greater Equitableness, Equality and Efficiency in Social Policy
——a Theoretical Analysis of Equitableness of China s Social Policy
[J]. SOCIAL WORK AND MANAGEMENT, 2013, 13(3): 5-10.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed   
No Suggested Reading articles found!