Causes of Public Disputes

In Breaking The Impasse, by Lawrence Susskind and Jeffrey Cruikshank, and The Magic Of Dialogue, by Daniel Yankelovich, we begin to get a clearer understanding of the primary causes of public disputes. While the causes are often complex and convoluted, various ones tend to rise to the surface as the most significant when it comes to causing public disputes such as land use issues. Public issues tend to end at an impasse for many of the same reasons or causes as political issues. In the Clinton administration we have witnessed more party politics and more stalled public issues that are significant (health care, budgets, etc.) come to an impasse because of the diversity and number of stakeholders behind each issue. Political issues that affect the public come to an impasse because of too many stakeholders vying for diverse (typically self-) interests, little common ground, and discourse that is typified by anger, hostility and mud-slinging. Other issues, like validity of research being used to support one set of stakeholders or another, also add to the clogged artery that public issues has become in modern society. Too many people are wanting too much out of self-interest with little willingness to compromise. The problem is, the wants they have, no matter which set of stakeholders, must all be sliced from the same limited resource pool or geographical pie if you will.

In Breaking The Impasse, we see the complexity and diver

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ed time to select representatives. Other groups (typically those representing the poor, people without political connections, or groups such as illegal aliens with dubious or not legal standing) may need financial assistance. Even when members of such groups perceives themselves to be a coherent interest group, they may be unable to present their views effectively. These unempowered groups often need organizational support to ensure fair representation" (Susskind, et al. 102-103). In The Magic of Dialogue, Daniel Yankelovich cannot place enough emphasis on the need for sustained dialogue in order to help solve many public issues at home and abroad. In his book he outlines the concept of a true democratic dialogue, one that is all inclusive and builds a consensus aimed towards the best possible outcome for as many stakeholders as possible similar to Susskind's, et al. call for action for resolving the public issues impasse. However, Yankelovich, in presenting this definition and outlining this need, also provides us with a number of significant reasons as to why public issues often end up going nowhere. We see that more often than not, it is not building consensus that is the most difficult part of the process in resolving p

Category: Economics - C