Setting the Agenda

Problems, Group Theory, Agenda Setting, Political Power, and Strategies for Inducing Policy Change

POSC 315 • Dr. David P. Adams

What Counts as a Problem?

  • Not every issue is a “problem.”
  • Condition: Something for which very little can be done.
  • Problem: Something that policy can address.
  • Over time, conditions can become problems.

Example: Condition or Problem?

  • Is drought a condition or a problem?
  • Is traffic congestion a condition or a problem?
  • When does something become a public problem?
Prompt: Think of an issue in your city or community—was it always seen as a problem?

The Social Construction of Problems

  • Social Construction: The process by which people define reality, influenced by context and political actors.
  • Social Construction of Problems: Defining problems and “selling” the definition to a broader population.

How Do We Construct Problems?

We use:

  • Symbols: Words, phrases, or images that evoke meaning.
  • Numbers: Statistics, data, and numerical information.
  • Stories: Narratives that define problems (including conspiracy theories, horror stories, and causal stories).

Examples: Symbols, Numbers, Stories

  • “War on Drugs” — the power of a metaphor
  • Unemployment rate spikes — numbers spark debate
  • Flint water crisis — a story that changed national attention
The way a problem is defined shapes how (and whether) it gets addressed.

Group Theory: Who Gets to Define Problems?

  • The group that successfully describes a problem often gets to define its solutions.
  • Competing groups promote their issues and try to keep others off the agenda.

Competing Theories: Pluralism vs. Elitism

  • Pluralism: Many groups compete in a relatively open political system. Policy results from this competition.
  • Elitism: Policymaking is dominated by the most educated, wealthiest, and most powerful. Policy reflects their preferences.

Why Does This Matter?

  • Who defines the problem gets to frame solutions.
  • Losers in one arena can try to expand conflict—take it to the public, the courts, or another level of government.
  • The definition game is never neutral; it’s about power.

Next: What Is the Agenda?

Up next—How issues move from “all possible things” to the shortlist for real action.

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