symbols chapter 6 policy paradox the art of political decision making deborah stone presented by:...

SYMBOLS SYMBOLS Chapter 6Chapter 6

POLICY PARADOXPOLICY PARADOXThe Art of Political Decision MakingThe Art of Political Decision Making

Deborah StoneDeborah Stone

Presented by:Presented by:Mirna P AmayaLouis Velasco

William Walders Jingbo Yu Gail Young

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What are Symbols? What are Symbols?

SymbolsSymbols– Anything that stands for something else.Anything that stands for something else.

meaning depends meaning depends

Collectively createdCollectively created

RoleRole

Why are symbols important in Why are symbols important in Politics?Politics?

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In what ways are Symbolic Devices In what ways are Symbolic Devices helpful in defining problems in helpful in defining problems in

Politics?Politics?

Following are Key in policy Following are Key in policy problem definition: problem definition:

1 Narrative Stories1 Narrative Stories

2 Synecdoches2 Synecdoches

3 Metaphors3 Metaphors

4 Ambiguity4 Ambiguity

How Many Devices are there How Many Devices are there in Problem Definition?in Problem Definition?

a)a) 11b)b) 22c)c) 33d)d) 44

1-Narratives Stories1-Narratives StoriesWhich of the following represent features of Which of the following represent features of

Narrative stories?Narrative stories?1)1) Often unspoken.Often unspoken.2)2) Widely shared.Widely shared.3)3) Hold a powerful grip on our psyche.Hold a powerful grip on our psyche.4)4) Offer promise of resolution for scary Offer promise of resolution for scary

problems.problems.5)5) All of the Above.All of the Above.6)6) None of the Above.None of the Above.

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1 Stories1 Stories2 Broad Story lines2 Broad Story lines– Story of Decline.Story of Decline.

Story of stymied progress.Story of stymied progress.

Story of progress-is-only-an-illusion.Story of progress-is-only-an-illusion.

– Story of Helplessness and control.Story of Helplessness and control.Conspiracy story.Conspiracy story.

Blame the victim story.Blame the victim story.

– The two stories are often woven together.The two stories are often woven together.

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1 Stories1 StoriesStory of DeclineStory of Decline

Story of stymied progress.Story of stymied progress.

Story of progress-is-only-an-illusion.Story of progress-is-only-an-illusion.

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1 Stories1 StoriesStory of Helplessness and Story of Helplessness and

controlcontrol

Conspiracy story.Conspiracy story.

Blame the victim story.Blame the victim story.

– The two stories are often woven together.The two stories are often woven together.

1-1-StoriesStories

Why Are stories important in Why Are stories important in Politics?Politics?

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2 Synecdoche (2 Synecdoche (si-si-neknek-duh-kee-duh-kee))

A synecdoche is a figure of speech that A synecdoche is a figure of speech that presents a kind of metaphor in which:presents a kind of metaphor in which:– A part of something is used for the whole .A part of something is used for the whole .– The whole is used for a part.The whole is used for a part.– The special for the general or The special for the general or – The general for the special.The general for the special.

*Dictionary.com

Why are Synecdoche Why are Synecdoche Important in Politics?Important in Politics?

Source: New York Times, Feb. 7, 2005, based on Budget of the United States FY2007.

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2 Synecdoche & Policy 2 Synecdoche & Policy

Why is it a powerful political strategy?Why is it a powerful political strategy?– Mislead the masses.Mislead the masses.

Horror story & worse case mentality.Horror story & worse case mentality.

– Organizing tool .Organizing tool .– Mobilizes anger.Mobilizes anger.– Reduces scope of an issue (more Reduces scope of an issue (more

manageable).manageable). suddenly becomes prototype and not the entire suddenly becomes prototype and not the entire issue. issue.

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3 Metaphors 3 Metaphors

Type of implied comparison.Type of implied comparison.

Using a word that denotes a certain thing to Using a word that denotes a certain thing to describe another.describe another.

Every policy metaphor contains assumption Every policy metaphor contains assumption that if that if aa is like is like bb, then you would solve both , then you would solve both aa and and bb the same way. the same way.

Once sensitized, can be found everywhere.Once sensitized, can be found everywhere.

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3 Metaphor: Types3 Metaphor: Types

Social institutions as Social institutions as “living organisms”“living organisms”

Natural laws as Natural laws as “unintended rewards”“unintended rewards”

““Machines and Machines and mechanical devices”mechanical devices”

““Wedges and incline”Wedges and incline”

““Containers”Containers”

WarWar

““Disease””Disease””

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3 Metaphor: 3 Metaphor: Why do Language and Symbols Why do Language and Symbols

Matter?Matter?Names and labels.Names and labels.

Strategic problem definition.Strategic problem definition.

Symbolic devices.Symbolic devices.

Metaphors so often go unnoticed Metaphors so often go unnoticed because they are a part of our cultural because they are a part of our cultural way.way.

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Examples of MetaphorsExamples of Metaphors

''If this keeps up, eventually these hospitals will ''If this keeps up, eventually these hospitals will not be state of the art.'‘ (not be state of the art.'‘ (New York TimesNew York Times, Jeff , Jeff Holtz, Jan. 7, 2007)Holtz, Jan. 7, 2007)““This year will be "make or break" for the NHS, This year will be "make or break" for the NHS, according to a report out today.” (according to a report out today.” (Northern Northern EchoEcho, Nick Bosanquet, Jan. 2, 2007), Nick Bosanquet, Jan. 2, 2007)““Shift in Congress Puts Health Care Back on the Shift in Congress Puts Health Care Back on the Table; Expecting a Mixed Reaction Across the Table; Expecting a Mixed Reaction Across the Aisle, Democrats Plan to Offer Ideas on Drug Aisle, Democrats Plan to Offer Ideas on Drug Cost, Safety” (Cost, Safety” (The Washington PostThe Washington Post, , Christopher Lee, Dec. 25, 2006)Christopher Lee, Dec. 25, 2006)

Why are Metaphors Why are Metaphors important?important?

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““The most important feature of all The most important feature of all symbols, both in art and in politics.”symbols, both in art and in politics.”

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DefineDefine– Ability of statements, events and experiences to have Ability of statements, events and experiences to have

>1meaning.>1meaning.

““Glue” of politics.Glue” of politics.

Agreements PossibleAgreements Possible– Allows people to agree on laws and policies because Allows people to agree on laws and policies because

they can read various meanings into words.they can read various meanings into words.

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4 Ambiguity4 Ambiguity : Context : Context

The context in which you find a symbol The context in which you find a symbol can determine its meaning. can determine its meaning.

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4 Ambiguity4 Ambiguity Politics: Science or art?Politics: Science or art?

(if you show this diagram to different scientists (if you show this diagram to different scientists around the world they would all conclude around the world they would all conclude its an its an atom.) atom.)

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4 Ambiguity4 Ambiguity Why is it essential in politics? Why is it essential in politics?

Multiple interpretations possible.Multiple interpretations possible.

Makes it possible to reach a Makes it possible to reach a compromises.compromises.

Leaders can gain support from different Leaders can gain support from different types of people.types of people.

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4 Ambiguity4 Ambiguity Why is it essential in politics?Why is it essential in politics?

People that have different policies in People that have different policies in mind can be grouped in one.mind can be grouped in one.

Brings people, who support policies for Brings people, who support policies for different reasons, together.different reasons, together.

(environmentalists and salesman).(environmentalists and salesman).

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May avoid conflict by passing an ambiguous statute May avoid conflict by passing an ambiguous statute and letting others deal with the controversial and letting others deal with the controversial aspects. aspects.

May solve conflict between two parties by “giving May solve conflict between two parties by “giving rhetoric to one side and the decision to the other.”rhetoric to one side and the decision to the other.”

May help when individuals are indecisive about May help when individuals are indecisive about supporting a leader.supporting a leader.

When individuals hold contradictory views, eg. on When individuals hold contradictory views, eg. on welfare, politicians can focus on the ambiguous welfare, politicians can focus on the ambiguous symbol and not on the actual practice.symbol and not on the actual practice.

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Think about the following:

Who would You give welfare to?

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Have a Great Gator Day!Have a Great Gator Day!

Are there any questions?

symbols chapter 6 policy paradox the art of political decision making deborah stone presented by:...

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