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Three. Reform Governments and Policy Implementation: Lessons from Peru

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Politics and Policy Implementation in the Third World
This chapter is in the book Politics and Policy Implementation in the Third World
THREE · Reform Governments and Policy Implementation: Lessons from Peru CYNTHIA MCCLINTOCK THE successful implementation of public policy is difficult in First World countries; it is more difficult in the Third World; and it may be most difficult for reform-oriented governments in the Third World, as this chapter will suggest. Reform-oriented governments share many major impediments to policy implementation such as resource scarcity and faulty communication among state agencies and citizens with other Third World countries. In addition, how-ever, these governments are by definition embarking on more ambitious, problematic programs that are harder to implement.1 Further, these governments generally claim to be concerned not only with national economic redistribution but also with popular political participation, and, in the new political arenas, conflict over program goals is likely to emerge, further impeding policy implementation.2 If the political leadership abides by its commit-ment to respond to popular concerns, conflict over correct policy implementation reverberates back to the leadership as conflict over correct policy formulation. Indeed, when the ideology of the reform government is uncertain and many voices are heard in the Note: I would like to thank the Social Science Research Council, which supported not only a year's fieldwork in Peru but also a return trip and write-up time. In Peru, I was fortunate to be helped by many kind people, especially Luis Deustua, Pedro Ortiz, and Rodolfo Osores Ocampo. This chapter has been greatly improved by the helpful comments of Suzanne Berger, Wayne Cornelius, Merilee Grindle, and Henry Deitz. 1 General discussions of this issue are provided by Merilee Grindle and Peter Cleaves in this volume, and by D. Van Meter and C. Van Horn, "The Policy Implementation Process: A Conceptual Framework," Administration and Society, 6, No. 4 (February 1975), 460-461. 2 This point is also emphasized by Van Meter and Van Horn, "Policy Implementation Process." 64
© 2017 Princeton University Press, Princeton

THREE · Reform Governments and Policy Implementation: Lessons from Peru CYNTHIA MCCLINTOCK THE successful implementation of public policy is difficult in First World countries; it is more difficult in the Third World; and it may be most difficult for reform-oriented governments in the Third World, as this chapter will suggest. Reform-oriented governments share many major impediments to policy implementation such as resource scarcity and faulty communication among state agencies and citizens with other Third World countries. In addition, how-ever, these governments are by definition embarking on more ambitious, problematic programs that are harder to implement.1 Further, these governments generally claim to be concerned not only with national economic redistribution but also with popular political participation, and, in the new political arenas, conflict over program goals is likely to emerge, further impeding policy implementation.2 If the political leadership abides by its commit-ment to respond to popular concerns, conflict over correct policy implementation reverberates back to the leadership as conflict over correct policy formulation. Indeed, when the ideology of the reform government is uncertain and many voices are heard in the Note: I would like to thank the Social Science Research Council, which supported not only a year's fieldwork in Peru but also a return trip and write-up time. In Peru, I was fortunate to be helped by many kind people, especially Luis Deustua, Pedro Ortiz, and Rodolfo Osores Ocampo. This chapter has been greatly improved by the helpful comments of Suzanne Berger, Wayne Cornelius, Merilee Grindle, and Henry Deitz. 1 General discussions of this issue are provided by Merilee Grindle and Peter Cleaves in this volume, and by D. Van Meter and C. Van Horn, "The Policy Implementation Process: A Conceptual Framework," Administration and Society, 6, No. 4 (February 1975), 460-461. 2 This point is also emphasized by Van Meter and Van Horn, "Policy Implementation Process." 64
© 2017 Princeton University Press, Princeton

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Contents vii
  3. List of Tables ix
  4. List of Figures xi
  5. List of Abbreviations xiii
  6. Acknowledgments xv
  7. Introduction
  8. One. Policy Content and Context in Implementation 3
  9. Part One. From Formulation to Implementation
  10. Two. The Paradox of Popularity: “Ideological” Program Implementation in Zambia 35
  11. Three. Reform Governments and Policy Implementation: Lessons from Peru 64
  12. Part Two. Choice and Consequence of Implementing Strategies
  13. Four. The Pilot Project and the Choice of an Implementing Strategy: Community Development in India 99
  14. Five. From Pilot Project to Operational Program in India: The Problems of Transition 123
  15. Six. Administrative Decentralization and the Implementation of Housing Policy in Colombia 145
  16. Seven. Controlled Decentralization and Policy Implementation: The Case of Rural Electrification in Rajasthan 170
  17. Part Three. Deciding Who Gets What
  18. Eight. The lmplementor: Political Constraints on Rural Development in Mexico 193
  19. Nine. The Politics of Public Housing in Nairobi 224
  20. Ten. The Failure of Influence: Squatter Eradication in Brazil 250
  21. Conclusion
  22. Eleven. Implementation Amidst Scarcity and Apathy: Political Power and Policy Design 281
  23. Contributors 304
  24. Index 307
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https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400886081-007

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter i
  2. Contents vii
  3. List of Tables ix
  4. List of Figures xi
  5. List of Abbreviations xiii
  6. Acknowledgments xv
  7. Introduction
  8. One. Policy Content and Context in Implementation 3
  9. Part One. From Formulation to Implementation
  10. Two. The Paradox of Popularity: “Ideological” Program Implementation in Zambia 35
  11. Three. Reform Governments and Policy Implementation: Lessons from Peru 64
  12. Part Two. Choice and Consequence of Implementing Strategies
  13. Four. The Pilot Project and the Choice of an Implementing Strategy: Community Development in India 99
  14. Five. From Pilot Project to Operational Program in India: The Problems of Transition 123
  15. Six. Administrative Decentralization and the Implementation of Housing Policy in Colombia 145
  16. Seven. Controlled Decentralization and Policy Implementation: The Case of Rural Electrification in Rajasthan 170
  17. Part Three. Deciding Who Gets What
  18. Eight. The lmplementor: Political Constraints on Rural Development in Mexico 193
  19. Nine. The Politics of Public Housing in Nairobi 224
  20. Ten. The Failure of Influence: Squatter Eradication in Brazil 250
  21. Conclusion
  22. Eleven. Implementation Amidst Scarcity and Apathy: Political Power and Policy Design 281
  23. Contributors 304
  24. Index 307
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