Fakultet politickih znanosti

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RESEARCH COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC POLICY AND
ADMINISTRATION INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL SCIENCE
ASSOCIATION  Conference  Constructing policy work
in a changing governmental environment  
Revisiting Agenda Setting Theory Two
Examples Ivan Grdeic University of Zagreb,
Faculty of Political Science 13th 15th June
2008, Dubrovnik, Croatia
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Agenda setting

• Agenda political priorities
• Problem definition
• Social construction of social problems
• Problems as opportunities,
• Problems as ownership.
• Agenda as indicator of power
• Defining actors, methods, resources, time etc.
• Making decisions on decision making

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John Kingdon Agendas, Alternatives, and Public
Policies. Boston Little, Brown, 1984 (2nd ed.,
New York Harper Collins, 1995.)

• Windows of policy opportunities
• Problems problem definition,
• Proposals policy solutions, alternatives,
• Politics political environment,
• policy entrepreneurs,

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Policy entrepreneurs political investment

• Political investment in policy streams
• political capital (mandates), time, money,
  energy, passion, reputation, organizational
  capacity, ....

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John Kingdon Policy streams
Problem
Agenda public policy
Proposal
Politics
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• Example One
• Direct election of local government executive
  officials in Croatia

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Problem definition

• democratic deficit after 2005. local elections,
• trading mandates to form coalitions,
• lost confidence in democratic process,
• post-electoral change of winning majority,
• electorate dissatisfied with political parties.

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Proposal policy solution

• direct election of mayors, county and community
  heads
• majority system, two rounds,
• deputy on the same ticket,
• changed relations to local assembly,
• second vote for the local representative body
  (proportional),
• positive and negative consequences.

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Politics political environment

• consensus of political parties,
• positive decision of the Croatian government,
• public support,
• support of elected mayors,
• support of the Croatian Association of the
  Cities,
• EU examples,
• Urban Institute, USAID, technical assistance.

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Kingdon agenda setting
Problem
Rjeenje
Proposals
Politics
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Example Two Pipeline Druba-Adria
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Problem Definition

• What was it supposed to resolve?
• Solution to what?
• Export of Russian oil?
• Development of the Croatia pipline company Janaf?
• Energy independence of Croatia?
• Major player in European energy markets?
• Partnership with Russia?

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Problem Definition, cont.

• Druba-Adria complex functions
• oil transport,
• refinery,
• storage,
• ship loading,
• oil terminal environment protection,
• tankers cruise regulation in Adriatic,
• prevention of the oil spillage,
• ballast water management.

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Proposal policy alternative

• Upgrade of the JANAF pipeline infrastructure.
• Revers oil pipeline flow. Expand tanker traffic.
• Unconclusive/negative environmental impact
  assessment review,
• Limited technical solutions for ballast waters,
• New regulations and standards.
• Irreversible consequences of oil spillage.

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Politics of it all.

• Druba-Adria and presidential elections,
• international obligations and big powers,
• local politics and NGOs
• political entrepreneurs leaving the project.
• terrorism, radical environmentalist,
• large number of actors, different interest
  positions

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Policy prozori Drube Adrie
Problem
Rjeenje
Politika
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