The Role of Social Sciences and Humanities in Research Group on Policy Planning and Development Management

(Peran Ilmu Sosial Kemanusiaan dalam Pengembangan KK Pengelolaan Pembangunan & Pengembangan Kebijakan)

Suhirman, SH., MT., Drs.

Johny Patta, Ir., MURP (Ph.D Candidate), Sonny Yuliar, Dr.Ir.

Abstrak

This research described the role of social sciences and humanities in public policy analysis.
This research assumed social and cultural aspect are very important in public policy making, therefore integrating social sciences and humanities in public policy analysis will promote sound policy.
This research reviewed literature of history, concepts, approaches, and theories on public policy analysis. Literature reviewed showed that until 1987, public policy analysis was dominated by three approaches such as system engineering, neo-classic economics and organization theories.
Therefore the positivism paradigm dominated the method and approaches of public policy analysis. This research showed that started in the early of 1970 there were many critics with public policy analysis approach. Such critics were come from theoreticians of social sciences and humanities. They state that the insight of meanings system and collective action were very important. They also stated that doe to public policy was discursive phenomena; the public policy analysis should engage the ‘public’ in public decision-making process. Emancipation and participation in public decision-making process were being common discourse in this approached. As the result, since 1980 public policy analysis has been also integrating social sciences and humanities approached in decision-making process.
Embedding social sciences and humanities in policy analysis do not replaced positivism approach, but enriching with new approach. If positivism approach focuses on policy substance, the social sciences and humanities help the policy analyze to understand the public decision-making process.