Framing unpopular policies and creating policy winners: The role of heresthetics

Drew, J; Fahey, G

Framing unpopular policies and creating policy winners: The role of heresthetics

Drew, J

Fahey, G

Permalink

Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Policy and politics, 2018, 46 (4), pp. 627 - 643
Issue Date:: 2018-01-01

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download Accepted Manuscript VersionAdobe PDF (486.93 kB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Drew, J https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3579-5758	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Fahey, G https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5499-4782	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-05-25T19:06:12Z
dc.date.issued	2018-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Policy and politics, 2018, 46 (4), pp. 627 - 643	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0305-5736	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/123157
dc.description.abstract	© Policy Press 2018. This article deals with a critical challenge for policymakers: how can political actors become policy winners in areas where they have previously experienced resounding losses? To address this puzzle, the article develops William Riker's concept of heresthetic, which describes how clever actors can disrupt the equilibrium of the political opposition by re-framing people's choices in such a way that they are inclined to contribute to their cause. Specifically, we propose a new analytical framework that enables scholars to trace and explain the various strategies available to politicians who seek to advance seemingly detrimental or risky policies in circumstances of uncertainty and complexity. This is applied to the surprising case of education reforms advanced by Australia's Liberal-National Coalition. In doing so, the article affirms the importance of vicarious instruction for aspiring herestheticians, the media, and the citizens whom they seek to manipulate.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Policy and politics	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1332/030557318X15241518778612	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Political Science & Public Administration	en_US
dc.title	Framing unpopular policies and creating policy winners: The role of heresthetics	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	4	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	46	en_US
utslib.for	1605 Policy and Administration	en_US
utslib.for	1606 Political Science	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/lnstitute for Public Policy and Governance
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - IPPG - Institute for Public Policy and Governance
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	4	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	46	en_US

Abstract:

© Policy Press 2018. This article deals with a critical challenge for policymakers: how can political actors become policy winners in areas where they have previously experienced resounding losses? To address this puzzle, the article develops William Riker's concept of heresthetic, which describes how clever actors can disrupt the equilibrium of the political opposition by re-framing people's choices in such a way that they are inclined to contribute to their cause. Specifically, we propose a new analytical framework that enables scholars to trace and explain the various strategies available to politicians who seek to advance seemingly detrimental or risky policies in circumstances of uncertainty and complexity. This is applied to the surprising case of education reforms advanced by Australia's Liberal-National Coalition. In doing so, the article affirms the importance of vicarious instruction for aspiring herestheticians, the media, and the citizens whom they seek to manipulate.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/123157