Overview
This webinar introduces basic ideas of political analysis and political strategies, using examples about the politics of moving toward universal health coverage, and is presented by Prof. Michael R. Reich, Takemi Research Professor of International Health Policy, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Health system strengthening and the adoption of universal health coverage are both profoundly political processes. As stressed in the Flagship Approach to Health Reform, astute policy developers begin political analysis early in the policy cycle. They do not delay political analysis until after the policy has been developed. The technical work of policy development and the political work of feasibility assessment need to occur together. Political analysis and political strategies are required at each stage in the policy cycle. This introduction to political analysis focuses on conducting a stakeholder analysis and the development of political strategies, as necessary steps in managing the politics of moving toward universal coverage. Relevance to the Indian context will be discussed.
Objectives
- Introduce basic principles of applied political analysis.
- Present approaches to the assessment of political feasibility of policy reform, with a focus on stakeholder analysis and the design of political strategies.
- Introduce and demonstrate a method of applied political analysis.