Essay Sample on 21st Century Policymaking: Challenges and Impacts of Advocacy

Introduction

Policymaking in the 21st Century has greatly advanced impacts of advocacy agendas in various platforms. However, some challenges are also experienced in 21st-century policy influencing. To start with, the lack of inclusivity still presents as a key challenge to policymaking in the 21st Century. Policy formulation excludes the voices of the vulnerable and poor in society. Lack of reflection of inclusivity in policy making is a big obstacle in wanting to realize 21st sustainable goals. The spirit of leaving no one behind in the 21st policy making is still low. Meaning that the needs of the vulnerable are less incorporated in policy frameworks leading to forms of discrimination.

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Another challenge facing policymaking in the 21st Century is the inability of policy frameworks to have a human face. Interlinking and correlating past human experiences in policy making is still a challenge. The Human Rights Based Approach centers human constitutional rights as a fundamental basis for policy formulation. The lack of elements of human rights in policy making in the 21st century still undermines historic struggles for national self-determination (Gauri, 2012). The rights-based approach enables informative decision making amid political diversity and orientation.

Inadequate funds also pose a huge challenge to proper policy formulation in the 21st Century. Effective policy development requires rigorous process that need adequate funding to enhance its effectiveness. Lack of finances inhibits the promotion of proper best practices in a society. As you are aware, with adequate funding, aspects of research, collaboration, and partnerships can easily be achieved. The limited funds in the policy-making arena contributes to laxity in the coercion of legislative guidelines and standards in a particular set up. Inadequate funds also limit exploration of diversified policy formulation through case studies and cross-learning.

Developing policy in the 21st century is predisposed to challenges of diverse societal representation. Today's societal representation is as diverse as the complex problems it brings. The current policy-making environment is still unresponsive to emerging changes in society (Derek, 2010). Mechanisms of letting out and hearing out of the grass-root emerging issues is not yet effective. Lots of real life recommendations and informative source of policy making are left unheard.

The 21st Century equally faces differentiated responses when conducting public participation. The diverse views originate from the observable complexities in the new generation. Issues of climate change, the industrial revolution, and technological advancement presents new emerging issues in the policymaking environment. Although change takes time, adjustability of policy frameworks to relate with current issues has been slow. The 21st-century policy-making avenue should support multilateral policy development approach. A multilateral approach is effective because key and diverse stakeholders are included in the decision-making mechanism. Enabling political and economic environment is deemed key in facilitating advocacy agendas

Conclusion

I find this course helpful in equipping me with skills, attitudes, and understanding of government operations. Aspects of good governance and accountability were my interesting part during this course. Other key learning points that I evolved with include contribution made by good policy formulation in effecting developmental changes in society. I now clearly understand key parameters for decision-making mechanisms and involvement of the marginalized. However, I recommend that thematic topics of social accountability should be explored further to add more significance to this course. Having a holistic course will help shape public administrators to tackle current and emerging policy matters harmoniously.

References

Derek, G., Stephanie, P., Helen, G., Richard, N. & Alec, M. (2010). The Future State Project. Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century.

Gauri, V. & Gloppen, S. (2012). Human Rights Based Approaches to Development: Concepts, Evidence, and Policy. Policy doi: 44. 10.2307/41684501.