Governments impact every aspect of people’s lives, providing frameworks of laws and regulations that regulate citizen welfare and ensure law and order. They also provide programs that foster economic prosperity and protect rights and liberties. In modern times, policymakers embrace collaboration and involve a wide range of stakeholders in the process of developing and implementing effective policies.
The way that policy problems are framed often correlates with the remedial policies that are implemented. This is because the beliefs, assumptions, and values of different stakeholders often differ from one another, which leads to divergent viewpoints about the nature of the problem at hand. Some of these differences of perspective are characterized as “elite/mass” disparities, where the views of the elite members of society tend to differ from those of the masses.
Policy debates are a ubiquitous feature of the policymaking process. These debates incorporate resource allocation and value choices and often rely on the use of a variety of rhetorical strategies. The most important of these strategies are framing arguments. Policy professionals in all fields understand that they must frame their arguments using persuasive narratives.
Governments should be open about their processes and be clear in communicating with citizens. This is particularly true in areas that involve complex issues where public perceptions can influence the course of policymaking. It is important to share the stories of government success in these areas. Failure to do so limits the debate and allows government critics to dominate the conversation.