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Hefrumm Politics Vol.I [Hefrumm Agenda Setting]


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Hefrumm Politics Vol.I 


This book and the series to come are compilations of wisdom from dwarven leaders from the confederation, the early days of Hefrumm, and newer information added by myself,  Karl Blackroot. I hope these words will help any future High Chief, even if some of the information in it becomes outdated.

 

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Hefrumm Agenda Setting

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Chapter I Agenda


Making an agenda is more than just considering what you find important; Interest guilds, Clans, and Folks all urge for issues to be taken into the agenda of the High Chief. One needs to be able to set the priorities.

The list of the High Chief’s priorities is called the Agenda. This list is crucial to understand the policy process in Hefrumm. The Agenda decides what issues will be subject to decision making in the folk or chief’s council. Whichever definition dominates the agenda will determine for the most part the options that will be considered.

 

There are different types of agendas that try to get themselves into the Agenda. There is the folk’s agenda, which are issues that the public find important. Issues that receive the most attention in the public mind. Then there is the courier’s agenda which consists of issues that are mentioned in newsletters and by couriers. The last one is the Clan’s agenda, which consists of the issues that are discussed by chiefs and clan fathers, where the end result of the discussion is subject to decision making.

 

There are two ways an issue can come to the High chief’s Agenda: Those that impose themselves on the agenda from above like a bird, and those that crawl their way up from below like a bug.

 

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[!] Huntress pumping her fellow hunters for a hunt.

 

From Below

Crucial actors are experts in the field of the issue that have developed a consensus among themselves about the course of action to deal with the issue in their field.

Field debates remain limited to the sector of their field, and the agenda is limited to that field.

Issues rise up the High Chief’s agenda as consensus is reached between field experts.

For this reason it would be good for a High Chief to have consultative forums for different fields.

Clans of Hefrumm should work together to form groups that would discuss areas in their field; Medics, religion, defence, etc.

These groups meet with the officials of Hefrumm to voice their concerns. This is not necessary when the Folk Council is ruling instead of the Chief’s Council.

Other Expert groups of important significance are clans. Clans can reach the High Chief to get his/her attention on an issue.

Issues do not need to develop inside of Hefrumm to be discussed and be part of the Agenda, especially if it could affect Hefrumm at a later date.

 

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[!] Chiefs’ Council analyzing the inferi movements.

 

From Above

In issues that come from above crucial actors are Nation leaders and Clan Leaders. They bring forth policy debate which are part of a broader strategic and political consideration.


Old John
Old John came up with the multiple steam model, which builds on a model of decision making known as the garbage can model, probably created by Knut. According to Old John’s model, the policy making process consists of three streams that flow and evolve separately from each other and have their own dynamics.

 

  • The Problem Stream consists of Problem perception among those making policy.
  • The Solution Stream, which consists of proposals for government action.
  • The Politics Stream, which consists of political activities and developments, such as clan elections, High Chief elections, shifts in public opinion, etc.

 

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[!] Bickering dwarves in a council meeting.

 

Despite the streams developing in isolation with each other they sometimes come together. When this happens a Window of Opportunity is created. In this window of opportunity a problem becomes important, a solution is available, and the political events are favorable.

A policy window can open up for several reasons. Usually these reasons are a major crisis or a shocking event, like when the trial of Ordvair Emberhorn led to the creation of the Constitution of Hefrumm.

 

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[!] A seer explaining religious concepts at a Folk’s Council.

 

As a High Chief definitions to a problem are not given. Many actors will try to actively influence how the issue will be defined. This would have a High Chief raise the following question: How should an issue be defined and what aspects of that problem should be deemed most important? This is called the politics of problem definition, also known as frame. A frame consists of implicit and sometimes explicit concepts and assumptions used to structure reality. The way an issue is framed can imply certain policy options, hence its importance.
There are three crucial questions a High Chief should ask when setting an Agenda:

 

  • How is the issue framed?
  • What Venues are there to deal with the issue?
  • Is this a favorable time to push the issue?

 

Those issues are often linked to other issues. Interest groups might use this to try to push another important issue forward killing two birds with one stone. Issues might also read your Agenda if it can be presented as an extension of existing Hefrumm policies.

Furthermore, the venue’s characteristics will determine how likely it is that an issue reaches the EU agenda. Understanding the venue also gives insight in the framing. ‘Battlegroups’ come in to try to push an item into the Agenda or influence the political actors to do so.

 

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Chapter II Agenda Setting Strategies 

 

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[!] Hefrumm Halfling propaganda.

 

Agenda setting is about having the issue considered by the Council, be it Hefrumm’s or Urguan’s. Only when an issue is being considered is there a chance that some decision on that issue will be taken.

There are two problems when it comes to agenda setting:

 

  •     How to get potential supporters to pay attention to the issue?
  •     How to build sufficient credibility for the Chiefs to deal with the issue?

 

The outcome of all conflict is determined by the scope of its contagion. The number of people involved in any conflict determines what happens; Every change in number of participants, every increase or reduction in the number of participants will impact the results.

 

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[!] Events tend to increase participation and activity.


Participation depends on the venue in which an issue is taken up. Each set of policy makers will come up with another angle to the issue and stress different aspects. Which venue deals with an issue is determined by the terms in which the issue is defined. In order to mobilize potential supporters, agenda setters need to define an issue in terms that appeal to those supporters.

There are two key elements in agenda setting: Decision making venues and issue frames. Strategies of gaining attention involve directing issues towards the ‘right’ venue in order to mobilize the potential supporters, and framing the issue in the ‘right’ way in order to arouse interest in it with the help of Belka. Policy makers also need to make sure that Hefrumm is the right venue for dealing with their issue. For some issues the involvement of Hefrumm is not self-evident. Because of this Clans need to convince the High Chief on the issue, but also that Hefrumm is also the right venue for it.
    

  • Legal competences: Is it in any treaties or law of Urguan or Hefrumm?
  • Does Hefrumm/Urguan have enough experience and capabilities to deal with the issue?
  • What other organizations or groups could deal with the issue?

 

Building credibility relates to the venues and frames. Building credibility requires a strategy of capacity building at the social levels in order to arrive to the venues that are sufficiently capable of dealing with the issue. Framing implies the construction of a convincing argument about why the issue is Hefrumm’s issue.


There are four types of strategy based on the two challenges and the key factors (Venues and frames):

  • Strategy for attention - Mobilizing Supporters: Shaping participation through institutional venues and venue modification.
  • Strategy for attention - Building interest: Framing the issue in such a way that it arouses interest. Often tied to dwarven values and identity by using big words. Can also use small steps to gather interest through events, conferences, and target groups.
  • Building Credibility - Capacity Building: the Challenge of building up sufficient organizational capacity to deal with an issue. In most policy areas a clan Chief/father will make the proposition and after adoption will monitor its implementation.
  • Building credibility - Claiming authority: Why is the issue scoped on hefrumm/Urguan? This is the political construction scale, the one present in the sigil of the confederation. It works by linking issues to established policies. Finally, arguing that a policy influences an issue can also be used to establish credibility. Claiming authority is difficult when links cannot be mader, however, agenda setters can use common challenges faced by the dwarves or define a dwarven core value to bring an issue forward.

 

There are three types of interrelationships between strategies. First, different strategies can be used next to each other. Strategies can also conflict with each other, and lastly, strategies can be used to compare the agenda setting process in the Urguan and Hefrumm system. There are some observations to be made on the last point:

  • Strategies of public mobilization tend to play a greater role in Hefrumm agenda setting than Urguan’s.
  • The high thresholds needed for decision making in Urguan makes it risky to stir up controversy.
  • Building credibility plays an important role in many agenda setting processes in Urguan whereas in Hefrumm the process is mostly limited to gaining attention.
     
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