Power, Politics & The Policy Window
IMPACT-oriented scientists are often engaging and seeking to influence people in positions of power. It is thus important that the IMPACT-oriented scientist understand types of power, the authority that comes with it, and how politics may play into the decision-making of powerful people.
Power
Power is the ability to impose one’s will on someone else. There are 3 types of power:
Overt power |
Choices that are made by leaders. This is the power that people can “see.” |
Covert power |
When a person works within complex systems and can influence or set agendas. This type of power is harder to “see.” |
Power to shape desires and beliefs |
This type of power can shift culture and how people think. Those that use this type of power may use persuasion, dialogue, or propaganda to move a person’s opinion in a direction where that person accepts the person in power’s values or action. The power to shape desires and beliefs can be the most influential type of power in the long run. |
Power is top-down or ground-up. Top-down power is when decision-making starts with legislators. Power from the ground-up is when legislators take their cues from citizens, organizations, interest-groups, and companies. Ground-up power can be motivated by injustices. This is where community engagement becomes critical in IMPACT-oriented science.
Power is not inherently good or bad. It is how that power is used that makes it good or bad. In many ways, power is the energy of politics.
Politics
Politics is the context and culture for policy making. It determines where resources go and influences health by shaping policy, regulations, public investment, and institutions. Politics shapes:
- The location of hospitals and clinics.
- What type of food is available to us.
- Whether public transportation has a stop near our home.
- Whether our medications are covered by our insurance.
- Whether we have access to health insurance.
- Whether we have access to clean drinking water.
- Whether our neighborhoods have sidewalks.
People working in and for health and health equity are part of the political process.
As IMPACT-oriented scientists, we must allow space for a plurality of opinions (even ones we do not like) and work to bridge the gaps using evidence. To do this, we need to engage with practice and policy decision-makers honestly and not be afraid to state when there is uncertainty.
The greater public and the legislator’s preferences for a policy change do not always align. Many times, decision-makers will focus on the desires of a smaller group rather than the majority. IMPACT-oriented scientists can use their voice and research to influence policy toward the evidence.
The Policy Window
The “policy window” is the range of policies that elected politicians are willing to consider. Policy ideas cover a spectrum of political viewpoints. Generally, decision-makers will get behind policies that are widely viewed as legitimate options that will increase (or at least will not decrease) their popularity. These policies lie within the policy window. The policy window can shift or expand and is mainly influenced by changing societal norms. Additionally, ideas outside of the policy window can move inside through the influence of media narratives, historical events, and politicians in power.
IMPACT-oriented scientists have the best chance of success to use their evidence for a policy option while it is in the policy window. If your policy option is not in the policy window, start from the ground up working with community and advocacy stakeholders and decision-makers to understand what evidence needs to be brought to the table.
References
Galea, S. (2021). Well: What We Need to Talk About When We Talk About Health (1st ed.). Oxford University Press.
Galea, S. (2022, May 3). Rethinking our approach to health after a pandemic: Lessons learned from Covid-19 [Lecture]. The Chancellor’s Health Policy Lecture Series, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Lukes, S. (2021). Power: A radical view. Red Globe Press.
The Overton Window. (2019). Mackinac Center. Retrieved July 6, 2022, from https://www.mackinac.org/OvertonWindow
Schmidt, L. (2022, January 4). Policy Matters [Slides]. UCSF Collaborative Learning Environment.