Diplomacy & Politics Glossary

A theory explaining policy change by focusing on groups of actors who share beliefs and coordinate over time to influence policy subsystems.

Policies that allocate resources or benefits to specific groups or sectors without directly reducing resources from others.

Distributive politics involves allocating government resources to specific groups or regions to gain political support without broad policy reforms.

Assessment of a policy or program before implementation to predict potential impacts and effectiveness.

Incremental budgeting adjusts previous budget amounts slightly for the new fiscal period instead of creating budgets from scratch.

A policy-making approach where changes occur through small, gradual adjustments rather than large shifts.

Examining the stories behind policies to understand their meanings, contexts, and impacts.

The set of issues and problems that government officials and policymakers prioritize for action at a given time.

Policy briefing summarizes key information and recommendations concisely for decision-makers.

The stages through which public policy progresses: agenda-setting, formulation, adoption, implementation, evaluation, and termination.

The process by which policy ideas and programs spread from one government or jurisdiction to others.

An individual who promotes and advocates for certain policies by leveraging opportunities during the policy cycle.

Policy evaluation assesses the effectiveness and impact of public policies after implementation.

The influence that existing policies have on future political behavior and policymaking.

The stage in the policy cycle where adopted policies are put into action by government agencies.

The difference between the goals of a policy as designed and the outcomes achieved during its execution.

A policy window is a limited opportunity when political conditions align to allow significant policy changes or reforms.

An assessment of the expected effects, costs, and benefits of a proposed regulation.

A systematic evaluation of the potential effects of a proposed regulation before it is implemented.

A document analyzing the potential effects, costs, and benefits of a proposed regulation before it is adopted.

A policy strategy that integrates human rights principles into the design and implementation of policies.

An organization that conducts research and provides advice on public policy issues to influence government decisions.