Public policy occupies a central place in the problems of political science and serves as one of the main and most important objects of political research. At само the same time, the state itself is studied both as a single political actor with its inherent properties and characteristics and as a systematic set of institutional structures (state institutions), orders, rules, connections, relations and processes of interaction of such structures.

The modern state and public policy, as an objectы of political research, due to its evolving properties and characteristics, requiresюa revision of analytical approaches and methods of its study. In the context of the increasingly complex structure of state power, the growing influence of globalization, digitalization and transformation of socio-political processes, there is not so much a need to create fundamentally new methodological tools, but rather to qualitatively improve existing ones. This means adapting and expanding research tools to meet new political, social and technological realities, as well as integrating interdisciplinary approaches for a deeper and more comprehensive analysis of modern state institutions and their interaction with society.

Method of political and legal analysis.

The method of political and legal analysis refers to qualitative methods of political research^[12]. It represents the development in modern conditions of the normative-institutional method, which came to the fore in the development of the methodology of political science in the institutional period (XIX-early XX century)^[13].

Political and legal analysis is based on the methodology of content analysis of normative legal acts that define the regulated rules of behavior of the object under study, as well as other official documents that reflect its activities. Such documents include programs and plans, minutes of meetings, circulars, official references, official responses to requests and appeals, and other sources. Within the framework of this approach, the main unit of analysis is the legal norm and its official interpretation, fixed in the relevant documents.

This method has two interrelated components: legal and political. The legal component is aimed at studying normative acts in order to identify compliance of decisions and actions of State bodies and their officials with the provisions of the Constitution, international human rights documents, as well as with the norms of current legislation. It analyzes the extent to which legal norms are implemented in practice, what legal mechanisms are involved, and whether they correspond to the principles of the rule of law. The political component involves the study of the political orientation of government decisions and actions reflected in regulatory acts and official documents. It is evaluated in whose interests legal norms are adopted: whether they serve the public good and the development of society as a whole, or whether they are focused on satisfying private, corporate or group interests, including the interests of officials themselves and political and economic elites.

The choice of a set of normative acts and documents subject to content analysis is determined by the theoretical hypothesis of the study. These materials should provide a comprehensive description of the key aspects of the activity of the object under study, which allows you to test the hypothesis and give an objective assessment of political and legal processes. It is important to take into account the context of making and implementing regulatory decisions, as well as their long-term implications for the political system and society as a whole.

In modern States, laws and regulations issued by the highest authorities and officials are subject to mandatory publication, which makes them officially accessible to the public. Nonо-published normative acts may not be applied, except in cases when it comes to bylaws containing information related to State or other legally protected secrets. However, with regard to departmental bylaws, the situation may be less transparent: their availability is often limited, and public authorities themselves may be reluctant to disclose information about their activities.

Bureaucratic barriers, complex procedures for accessing information, and references to the confidential nature of data are often used as a tool to limit public control over the activities of officials. In this regard, one of the key tasks of modernizing the public administration system is increasing the transparency and openness of government institutions. These reforms not only strengthen public confidence in State institutions, but also expand the analytical capabilities of political and legal research.

Simplification of access to official documents and legal acts allows applying the methods of political and legal analysis at a deeper level, which, in turn, increases the reliability and objectivity of the results obtained. The more detailed and complete the regulatory description of the activities of state bodies becomes, the more accurate and well-founded conclusions can be drawn during the analysis, which contributes to the formation of effective mechanisms of legal control and political responsibility of the authorities to society.

The methodological and instrumental basis for the political and legal analysis of the actions of the object under study when it participates in specific socially significant processes, events and situations can be the event data analysis method- event analysis^[14], which should also include legal and political components. Within the framework of political and legal analysis, the legal component consists in assessing the compliance of the object's actions with the norms of the Constitution and current legislation. The political component, in turn, is aimed at identifying the goals, motives and consequences of such actions in terms of their impact on socio-political processes. The definition of a set of regulatory acts for compliance with which the analysis is carried out is based on the proposed research hypothesis and related aspects of legal regulation of a particular process, event or situation.

Close attention should be paid to the nature and reliability of the sources of information on which основываетсяthe study is based. In most cases, information about the actions of the object under study comes from traditional media-mass media, news agencies, and Internet resources, which inevitably introduces certain subjective interpretative and factual distortions. Less often, the source is direct observations of the researcher himself or qualified experts who participate in the analyzed processes and events in the enabled observation mode.

However, a variety of sources, each of which may contain its own errors, subjective interpretations, and elements of information noise, form a fragmented picture of reality. To increase the reliability of the analysis, it is necessary to aggregate disparate information into a complete information representation, minimizing interpretative distortions and filtering elements of political propaganda. Such aggregation is carried out by means of comparative confirmation of information from various independent sources. The methods used include correlation analysis of information, verification of data based on logical consistency, as well as comparative analysis of statements and actions of the subject of research. An integrated approach to information processing allows for a more objective assessment of the political and legal aspects of the activities of state institutions and their officials, ensuring high accuracy and reliability of the research findings.

Method of comparative and institutional analysis.

The method of comparative-institutional analysis, according to the existing classifications of political science methods, can be attributed to post-behavioral approaches focused on building theoretical conclusions by interpreting factual material. Its essence consists in a comparative study of the institutional characteristics of the state as an integral political actor in order to identify the relationships between various elements of the state system and determine trends in their influence.

As initial data for the analysis, quantitative estimates of key parameters of the state structure obtained in the course of state studies are used. These studies cover the majority of modern sovereign States and provide standardized indicators that allow for comparative assessments.

One of the central aspects of the application of this method is the instrumentalization of the observation process, that is, the selection of specific state studies and quantitative indicators that will be used to assess the institutional characteristics of the state. The main empirical material in such studies is presented in the form of normalized indices and ratings that reflect key parameters of public administration and socio-political processes. Such indices include the Public Administration Quality Index, the Corruption Perception Index, the Economic Freedom Index, the Political Rights and Civil Liberties Index, and other comprehensive indicators of socio-economic and political development.

Depending on the research task, the analysis can use both generalized indices and their individual component indicators, which allows for a detailed assessment of individual aspects of the state's institutional development.

The main tools of quantitative state studies are expert assessments obtained on the basis of large-scale questionnaire surveys of qualified experts. Both specialists from the country under study and foreign analysts take part in the surveys, which allows us to provide a comparative view of institutional processes.

In addition to expert assessments, the research also uses analysis of statistical data obtained from official sources, international organizations, and independent think tanks. Although the scope of statistical analysis in such studies may be limited, its application contributes to improving the objectivity and reliability of the results.

According to some experts, the ratings obtained by the results of state studies, «compiled according to expert estimates, always bear the imprint of subjectivism»^[15]. However, the desire to make a predominant «emphasis on the analysis of statistical databases that are universal in scope and recognition"^[16] can also lead to inadequate results. An adequate analysis of most of the characteristics and properties of a modern state requires both quantitative statistical and qualitative expert assessments.

The method of comparative institutional analysis, based on systematized quantitative data and expert assessments, allows identifying structural patterns in the development of state institutions, analyzing the impact of various factors on the political and economic stability of countries, and predicting possible trends in their evolution.

In general, a comprehensive approach to public policy research that combines various analytical methods (case studies, the Delphi method, focus groups, content analysis, modeling, surveys, SWOT-analysis, and many others) allows you to get the most objective picture and develop effective recommendations for government agencies. The choice of methodology depends on the research objectives, available data, and the specific nature of the problem under consideration.

 

Control questions

 

1. What are the main theoretical approaches, used to study public policy?
2. Outline an institutional approach to the study of public policy.
3. The main ideas of rational choice in the analysis of public policy.
4. Explain процессыpublic policy processes in terms of structuralого functionalism.
5. How does public administration affect the implementation of public policy?
6. What is the difference between the formation of a state policy and its implementation?
7. What are the main functions of public policy?
8. Select the levels of government policy.
9. Опишите оNew methods, used in public policy research.
10. What modern technologies and tools are used in public policy analysis?

 

Questions for discussion

 

1. What factors influence the process of public policy formation, and how the interaction of various political actors determines the final decisions?
2. How does public administration promote or hinder the effective implementation of public policies? Can we talk about governance crises that affect policy?
3. How do the goals of public policy relate to its actual results? Why do public policies sometimes fail to achieve their goals?
4. How do political crises and government reforms affect the reorientation of public policy? Is it possible to develop sustainable mechanisms to prevent political instability? Give examples (countries of the world).

 

Case studies

 

Case 1. Theoretical approaches to the study of public policy.

The Government of country N is faced with the problem of growing social inequality. Incomes are very unevenly distributed, the poverty rate is growing, and the middle class is shrinking. In addition, social benefits do not always reach those in need, which causes dissatisfaction among citizens. In this regard, the Government decides to analyze the situation and develop new measures to overcome social inequality. Experts from different schools of political science are involved in finding solutions. They offer different theoretical approaches to analyzing the situation and finding solutions.

Tasks:

1) Describe the main theoretical approaches used in public policy analysis:

- egoism: explain how this approach interprets the influence of elites on the formation of social policy.

- pluralistic model: how can competition between different social groups affect the fight against inequality?

- institutional approach: what role do State institutions and their structure play in regulating social inequality?

- rational choice: what economic factors can determine the behavior of citizens and the state in this area?

2) Compare the suggested approaches:

- what advantages and disadvantages of each approach can be identified when analyzing policies to reduce inequality?

- to which approach can be most applicable in this context?

3) Suggest possible measures to combat social inequality, based on different approaches.

 

Case 2. Functions and levels of public policy.

State N develops a comprehensive environmental safety program. Major challenges include air pollution in large cities, forest degradation, and a lack of clean drinking water in rural areas. For the effective implementation of the program, measures are provided at different levels of management:

- national level: adoption of laws, stricter environmental standards, attraction of international investments;

- regional level: сcreation of nature protection zones, modernization of industrial enterprises, control over the level of pollution;

- youth level: community outreach, implementation of separate garbage collection programs, landscaping of localities.

Tasks:

1) Determine which public policy functions are being implemented in this case.

2) Analyze the interaction of government policy levels:

- how do national decisions affect the regional and local level?

- what role can local authorities, businesses and public organizations play in implementing the policy?

3) Suggest additional measures to improve the effectiveness of the program.

Case 3. Methods of public policy research.

In country M, the government has launched a small business support program aimed at issuing soft loans, simplifying tax reporting, and developing business incubators. Three years later, questions arise about the effectiveness of the program: has it really helped small businesses, how many jobs have been created, and which companies have benefited the most? To provide an objective assessment, the Government decides to conduct a study using various analytical methods.

Tasks:

- determine which public policy research methods can be applied in this case.

- select key indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of the program.

- how can the results of the study affect the subsequent adjustment of the state policy?

- what changes can be proposed to improve the effectiveness of the program?

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^[12] For qualitative and quantitative methods of political research, see: Degtyarev A. A. Fundamentals of Political Science. – Moscow: Higher School, 1998. – pp. 33–34.

^[13] For the periodization of the development of political science methodology, see: Smith B., Johnson K., Shocket F. Political Research: Methods, Foundations, and Techniques. – Atlanta, 1973. – p. 3.

^[14] For event analysis, see: Borishpolets K. P. Methods of Political Research. – Moscow: Aspect Press. – 2005. – pp. 66–75.

^[15] Mironyuk M. G., Timofeev I. N., Vaslavsky Ya. I. Universal Comparisons Using Quantitative Analysis Methods (Case Review) // Polis. – 2006. – No. 5. – pp. 39–57.

^[16] Political Atlas of Modernity: Experience of Multidimensional Statistical Analysis of Contemporary State Political Systems. – Moscow: MGIMO University, 2007. – p. 9.