Policy Design Theory

Applying Cultural Knowledge to Design Problems: Notes for the U.S. Military about Challenges and Opportunities

by Derek B. Miller

Presented at the "Culture Summit" for U.S. Training and Doctrine Command, 2009, and available on the website of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research

A provocative presentation that reviews cultural education in the U.S. military since the 1950s and suggests a new way... more A provocative presentation that reviews cultural education in the U.S. military since the 1950s and suggests a new way to mobilize cultural knowledge as a strategic asset in the design of local solutions. Led to an invitation in 2010 to address culture and maritime security in Kiel, Germany at the Maritime Security Conference.

Policy Styles and Degenerative Politics: Poverty Policy Designs in Newfoundland and Quebec

by Matthieu Mondou

With Éric Montpetit. Policy Studies Journal. 2010. 38(4): 703-722

Editorial note from Peter deLeon and Chris Weible:

"The fifth article deals with a different aspect... more Editorial note from Peter deLeon and Chris Weible:

"The fifth article deals with a different aspect of change; that is, how are adopted policies designed? Applying Anne Schneider and Helen Ingram’s theory of social construction of target groups, Matthieu Mondou (University of Toronto) and Éric Montpetit (Université de Montréal) investigate the enduring question about degenerative politics and the extent that policies will help underprivileged citizens. By means of prepositional content analysis of action plans in Newfoundland and Quebec, they find that degenerative politics is less common in consensual systems than in adversarial styles. A possible implication is that greater public contributions to policy design as well as to the abatement of conflict will mitigate degenerative politics. We trust readers will agree that this is probably one of the best applications of Schneider and Ingram’s theory in recent years."


ABSTRACT:

This article examines the proposal suggesting that policy designs are consistent with the social construction of target groups. Associated with policy design theory, the proposal pessimistically suggests that underprivileged citizens will be targeted with policies that do little to help them, creating a vicious circle of degenerative politics. This article argues that the prevalence of degenerative politics depends on policy styles. Significant where the adversarial style prevails, degenerative politics is less common in consensual systems. This proposal is examined through a systematic content analysis of action plans to reduce poverty in Newfoundland and Quebec.

Local, Diffuse, and Bottom-Up: A New Design Policy for Italy?

by Stefano Maffei

Magazine Article_published in DESIGN MANAGEMENT REVIEW, Volume 21, Issue 4 (December 2010)

Che cosa vogliamo fare nel nuovo Consiglio italiano del design

by Stefano Maffei

Magazine Article_published in IL GIORNALE DELL'ARCHITETTURA/DESIGN, 84 (may 2010)