7. العامة ياسةالس نظرية
الق أبو هللا عبد مصطفى .د.أ
ميخش امس
4
واالقتصادية والسياسية االستراتيجية للدراسات العربي الديمقراطي المركز إصدارات
/
المانيا
-
برلين
Abstract
A review of the literature reveals that the development of an
integrated and independent public policy theory in this context has gone
through long historical processes, resulting in different theoretical
frameworks that describe, analyze and predict the decision-making
process from different perspectives.
According to Thomas Kuhn's philosophy on the scientific
revolutions, there are three successive revolutions in public policy
studies, namely, the classical paradigm, which developed political
sciences, the behavioral school of thoughts, which established political
science as an independent field of knowledge, and the post-behavioral
revolution, which contributed to the development of an integrated and
independent theory of public policy.
Nevertheless, the development of an integrated theory of public
policy in the early 1970s does not mean in any way not to benefit from
the contributions of the classical and behavioral theory in this field;
therefore, it may argue that the theoretical framework of public policy
circle is descrying, analyzing, and predicting public policy processes.
Yet, classical and behavioral theories failed in this regard to do so due to
their micro and macro focus on decision-making and public policy.
The aim of this book is not limited to reviewing the literature of
public policy, but it extends to describing and analyzing the concept of
the scientific revolution developed by Thomas Kuhn within the field of
public policy. Accordingly, three theoretical frameworks may identify
regarding public policy theoretical framework:
• A classic theory deals with public policy as a result or dependent
variable.
• A behavioral theory focuses on public policy as an output or
independent variable.
A post-behavioral public policy theory identifies policy as a
process or a dependent and independent variable.
This book also aims to expose the practical dimension of public
policy, e.g., public policy circles in the real world. Public policy is not
8. العامة ياسةالس نظرية
الق أبو هللا عبد مصطفى .د.أ
ميخش امس
5
واالقتصادية والسياسية االستراتيجية للدراسات العربي الديمقراطي المركز إصدارات
/
المانيا
-
برلين
just a paradigm that embodies the existence of classical, behavioral, and
post- behavioral theories, models, and theoretical frameworks. It is also
considering a field in which public policy may study in the real world,
such as public policy for education. Accordingly, this book contains four
chapters that describe, analyze and predict public policy through the
following dimensions:
First, chapter one identifies the concept and dimensions of public
policy since the oldest human civilizations. Here, it may argue that
public policy does not exist from a vacuum. Thus, the first chapter of this
book focuses on tracing the concepts and dimensions of public policy
since ancient civilization.
Second, chapter two traces the traditional concept of decision-
making since Woodrow Wilson published his famous essay on the
emergence of the science of public administration in 1887. Wilson's
view was affected by the principle of separation of powers in the
absolute term. Therefore, the traditional theory of public policy argued
that public policy has dominated by a legislative authority on the one
hand and an executive branch authorized to execute them on the other
hand.
Third, the emergence of the behavioral paradigm in the 1950s is
the concern of chapter three. The behavioral public policy theory took
into account the expanded activities of political systems in various
aspects of life. Yet, the behavioral public policy theory rejects the
proposition of classical theory on public policy as a result on the one
side, and it deals with public policy as an outcome or an independent
variable on the other side.
Fourth, the final chapter of this book describes and analyzes neo-
theoretical frameworks that deal with public policy as a process. The
behavioral theory of public policy is distinctive, independent, and
narrowing the gap between theory and practice.
It is clear from the previous argument that the contemporary
public policy theory may describe as complex, overlap, independent, and
a cumulative dimension of human knowledge. In short, the concept of
public policy is a complex, overlaps process due to its nature as a multi-
9. العامة ياسةالس نظرية
الق أبو هللا عبد مصطفى .د.أ
ميخش امس
6
واالقتصادية والسياسية االستراتيجية للدراسات العربي الديمقراطي المركز إصدارات
/
المانيا
-
برلين
dimensional process, e.g., dealing with it as a result, and cause on the
one hand and as processes on the other hand. Furthermore, it is also
considering a field that overlaps with other branches of knowledge. Yet,
public policy has also become an independent field sonce the 1970s.
Thus, either it has been taught as a sub-field in political science
departments or separate scientific departments on the one hand, or it
reflects a historical dimension that goes back to the ancient human
civilizations on the other hand.
Keywords: Public Policy, Scientific Revolution, Paradigm, Decision-
Making, Classical theory, Behavioral Theory, Post-Behavioral Theory,
and Public Policy Circles.