The ability to influence policies and laws is one path to permanent social change. Whether they originate from above, as official government policy translated into legislation and regulations, or from the ground up through workplaces, social groups, or grassroots movements, changes in policies can help address real-world problems and create sustainable solutions.
It is important to have a plan for how you will bring about the policy change you want to see. You can use a broad variety of tactics, such as education, awareness, demonstrations, lobbying, and media coverage. You also need to have a clear analysis and articulation of why the policy change is needed and how it will benefit your community.
Identifying potential allies and opponents and their interests is crucial for any campaign to change policy. This will allow you to determine the potential for a successful policy window. For example, you will be more likely to have success with a policy change when the issue has a high level of public visibility; is close to an election; or when a major decision is imminent.
Policy researchers have traditionally categorized variables that influence policy reform into three categories: institutions, interests, and ideas. However, more recent research has also emphasized the importance of networks in policy-making (see below).
Trying to change policies can be a challenging endeavor. It is often a process of incremental change, rather than a rapid jump to new outcomes. This is often a good strategy, especially when dealing with issues that might be controversial. For example, the increase in the pension age for women was introduced slowly over a 10 year period, rather than abruptly shifted to match that of men. Similarly, taxes may be increased or decreased to incentivize positive behavior or discourage negative behaviors.