Social Construction Theory

Social Construction Theory

Social construction theory explains how government policies affect different groups of citizens by rewarding them or punishing them by government body (Ingram, Schneider & Deleon, 2007). When a policy is introduced by policymakers the benefited groups and burdened groups of the participants are contemplated and policy is designed based on that purpose. Before taking the decision making, the rational government takes two below mentioned stands.

1. Will this policy afflict their future winning chances in the election?

2. Will this policy comply with general moral values of existing society?

Inevitably, the former one will obtain more significance than later. The two critical questions arise when we focus on the

I take this example to expound the advocacy coalition framework. The social values, highly bounded by religious orthodoxy and conservative political views are the stable parameters in this issue. Mainly, two types of coalitions were in the field as proponents and opponents of the issue. proponents mainly consist lobbying groups and other LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) organizations. Before passing the law, Australian government launched a postal survey throughout the country and government found that the majority of public support and recognize the same sex marriage. Consequently, federal government passed the law without any objections. Before two decades, this might be difficult to pass such law since public opinion for same sex marriage was too much conservative one. Notably, it should be remembered that public opinion is the external parameter in Advocacy Coalition Framework and this external factor had a major influence on the aforesaid policy changes. Sabatier & Weible (2007) argued that remarkable changes can only be possible because of external shocks rather than internal shocks having perceptual blinders and devil shift. Furthermore, public policy changes take more time and changes and consent of stable parameters are also required (Sabatier & Weible,

The policy changes, happening because of the sudden changes of external factors can be also explained by the theory. In addition to that, advocacy coalition theory gives more explanation of how policies are negotiated and adapted in the democratic space through the different contradicting ideas. The policies of tax reformation and privatization of public enterprises are the typical economic paradigms of how advocacy coalition works in subsystem to produce favourable result in long run