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Role of Power and Interest Groups in Agenda Setting
Dr. Nasir Ahmed
Grambling State University
PA 512 Policy Formation/Implementation/Evaluation
02.09.2024 2
Role of Power and Interest Groups in Agenda Setting
The agenda-setting highlights how problems and their subsequent alternative solutions gain or lose the attention of the elite and the public. Power and interest groups are critical in agenda-setting within the public policy framework. The agenda-setting process often involves many problems requiring effective, innovative, and viable solutions to address the identified challenges. In his argument, Thomas Birkland adopts the elite theory perspective. He suggests that relatively few individuals in positions of power within the government, academia, industry, the media, and other institutions have a disproportionate share of the nation’s political and economic resources (Birkland, 2020). The challenge with this occurrence is that these individuals
get to make major decisions or implement major policies outside the public's interest.
Further, such individuals are not always on the same page – which inherently prevents the effective formation of a unified agenda. Regardless, it is important to note that these elites are
not static- and that changes keep happening every now and then depending on elections terms of contract and a wide range of other factors. This policy review paper argues that power and interest groups are dynamic. Elite individuals, in particular, have a more pronounced impact on agenda-setting and policy implementation- making it inherently difficult for less powerful individuals to effect any significant change (Birkland, 2020). However, it is important to note that while the elite makes the vast majority of decisions, their power is not static. While the American system of government tends to favor the elite over the less powerful inherently, the so-called disadvantaged interest can coalesce and actualize their ideas when the time is right ( Halpin & Fraussen, 2021). It is also crucial to highlight the role of
Role of Power and Interest Groups in Agenda Setting
Dr. Nasir Ahmed
Grambling State University
PA 512 Policy Formation/Implementation/Evaluation
02.09.2024 2
Role of Power and Interest Groups in Agenda Setting
The agenda-setting highlights how problems and their subsequent alternative solutions gain or lose the attention of the elite and the public. Power and interest groups are critical in agenda-setting within the public policy framework. The agenda-setting process often involves many problems requiring effective, innovative, and viable solutions to address the identified challenges. In his argument, Thomas Birkland adopts the elite theory perspective. He suggests that relatively few individuals in positions of power within the government, academia, industry, the media, and other institutions have a disproportionate share of the nation’s political and economic resources (Birkland, 2020). The challenge with this occurrence is that these individuals
get to make major decisions or implement major policies outside the public's interest.
Further, such individuals are not always on the same page – which inherently prevents the effective formation of a unified agenda. Regardless, it is important to note that these elites are
not static- and that changes keep happening every now and then depending on elections terms of contract and a wide range of other factors. This policy review paper argues that power and interest groups are dynamic. Elite individuals, in particular, have a more pronounced impact on agenda-setting and policy implementation- making it inherently difficult for less powerful individuals to effect any significant change (Birkland, 2020). However, it is important to note that while the elite makes the vast majority of decisions, their power is not static. While the American system of government tends to favor the elite over the less powerful inherently, the so-called disadvantaged interest can coalesce and actualize their ideas when the time is right ( Halpin & Fraussen, 2021). It is also crucial to highlight the role of
