Issue ? 29. December 2011

Actors of Public Policy: Problems of Theoretical Conceptualization

Graduate student, School of Public Administration, Lomonosov Moscow State University.
E-mail: yulya.belyaeva@gmail.com

An analysis of evolution of different theoretical approaches to public policy  has shown that there was transition from consideration of actors of decision-making process as a cohesive group (elite) to revealing  separate groups of influence (groups of interests), and then to specification of small formations (triangles, networks, coalitions), pursuing private interests and purposes. The actor’s activity during decision-making process shows the basic essence of this process which does not consist of rational application of the consecutive steps leading to a specific result, but of using the informal techniques of the coordination of interests. Interpersonal and intergroup relations, which are built in formal organizational structure of decision-making process are particularly important.  Researchers pay more attention to the factors of stable formations in decision-making process and confirm that common interests of different actors is a basis for association of different actors in groups

Keywords

Decision-making process, actors of public policy, political communication.