Piecemeal Social Engineering (Isny Joseph).pdf

5
Information Processing – You have also heard two different approaches to information
processing in policy analysis. The pessimistic application sees a complex process.
Adherents of this school are skeptic about information validity, and hence, they argue
that analysts must only address policy alternatives that score some chance of acceptance.
The optimist camp seeks to identify an ideal policy process and a means for its
attainment. Both are seeking to facilitate intelligent action in a world of perfect
information. As such, they are both compatible with piecemeal social engineering.
Political Philosophy- Political philosophy believes in values systems, and values
political institutions. By trial and tests, these values and institutions can be understood in
evolutionary terms as the products of proposals and criticisms. Piecemeal social
engineering would be, and in fact, is sympathetic to political philosophy as a frame.
Slide 11- Contrast
Positivists are confident in recommending large scale policy action on the basis of their
theories, once they have been confirmed. Conversely, Piecemealists would recommend
some cautious and moderate actions. Take the policy of the education policy of force
busing, positivists acted, and then admitted that the theory was not tested. A piecemeal
social engineer would test force busing by moderate application before recommending it
on a large scale.
Positivists believe only expects have an understanding and knowledge about public
policy, and therefore, policy analysis and policy making should be left to technocrats,
and experts. They admit no criticisms, considered as trapped administrators.