Journal
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY
Volume 52, Issue 3-4, Pages 211-223Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1007/s10464-013-9591-5
Keywords
Community psychology; Policy Transformative change; Neo-liberalism
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I present ideas about how community psychologists, as researcher-activists, can influence public policy. I begin by describing the current neo-liberal era, noting the immense obstacles it poses to progressive policy change. Next I contrast two approaches to understanding policy formation, evidence-based policy and discursive policy analysis, and argue that transformative policy change can benefit from both approaches. I then propose three types of policy outcomes that community psychology research and activism should aim to promote: (a) shaping problem definition, (b) controlling channels for debate and participation, and (c) allocating resources. I use examples from community psychologists' involvement in policy, mostly in Canada, to illustrate how such policy change can be both achieved and constrained. I conclude by discussing implications for theory and practice related to policy change.
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