A Theoretical Framework for Global Policy Studies
| Published date | 01 July 1990 |
| DOI | 10.1177/019251219001100302 |
| Date | 01 July 1990 |
| Author | Marvin S. Soroos |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
309
A
Theoretical
Framework
for
Global
Policy
Studies
MARVIN
S.
SOROOS
ABSTRACT.
This
paper
illustrates
the
applicability
of
the
theoretical
perspective
of
policy
studies
to
the
enterprise
of
global
problem-solving
by
addressing
three
questions.
First,
what
types
of
policy
problems
exist
that
are
of
global
concern?
Second,
how
are
public
policies
made
at
the
global
level?
In
responding
to
this
question,
specific
attention
is
given
to
the
stages
in
global
policy
processes,
the
arenas
in
which
they
take
place,
and
the
participating
actors.
Third,
what
is
the
nature
of
the
resulting
policies
and
how
are
they
implemented?
Introduction
It
is
not
only
appropriate,
but
also
of
critical
importance,
that
the
theoretical
perspective
of
policy
studies
be
extended
to
the
global
sphere
of
human
activity.
Mankind
faces
numerous
challenges
which
cannot
be
effectively
addressed
by
nation-states
acting
on
their
own.
These
challenges
include
avoiding
war,
constraining
arms
races,
managing
the
world
economy,
reducing
the
prevalence
of
poverty
and
hunger,
promoting
the
observance
of
human
rights,
preventing
the
spread
of
contagious
diseases,
refereeing
competing
uses
of
the
oceans
and
outer
space,
and
preserving
the
natural
environment.
Policy
studies
offer
a
theoretical
framework
for
analyzing
and
evaluating
the
collective
efforts
of
both
governmental
and
nongovernmental
actors
to
address
these
and
many
other
global
problems
within
the
context
of
international
institutions,
such
as
the
United
Nations
and
its
affiliated
specialized
agencies.
The
field
of
policy
studies
has
grown
and
developed
rapidly
in
recent
decades
as
a
multi-disciplinary
approach
to
inquiry
into
societal
problems
and
the
strategies
adopted
by
governments
to
address
them.’
With
a
few
exceptions,
however,
the
scope
of
policy
studies
has
been
limited
to
the
efforts
of
national
governments
or
their
subunits
to
address
the
particular
problems
of
their
constituent
populations,
such
as
their
needs
for
health
care,
education,
employment,
transportation,
and
security.
Policy
studies
specialists
have
been
reluctant
to
apply
their
perspective
and
method
beyond
the
domain
of
nation-states
to
the
international
and
global
levels
of
political
organization.
One
apparent
reason
is
the
common
conception
of
a
policy
as
being
the
product
of
a
type
of
governmental
structure
that
does
not
exist
in
the
anarchic
international
political
order.
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