POLITICAL MAPPING

Policy Development
and
Budget Process Training
Political Mapping is a technique to
record and analyze alliances
and/or positions of political
actors/stakeholders within a
specific policy arena
 B. PREPARING A POLITICAL MAP
CLINTON HEALTH REFORM EXAMPLE

Source: Reich. 2003.

 B. PREPARING A POLITICAL MAP
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE ACT (HB 3773)
EXAMPLE

Source: Ador. 2005.

 B. PREPARING A POLITICAL MAP
Contraceptive+ Policy Concerns
in Municipality xxx, Benguet Example

High Medium Low Non- Low Medium High

Support Support Support Mobilized Opposition Opposition Opposition

BHWs Civic Vice- MWRAs, SB

orgs. Mayor etc. Religi
ous
Mayor SK organi
SB
zation
Health
MHO Com
Chair

CHD
SK
Chair

Source: Ador. 2005

 Political Mapping Matrix
Support Neutral Opposition (Resistant)

High Med Low Low Med High

 SUPPORT

INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA of the policy actor

High
MOBILIZED RESOURCES / ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT in activities
Support
related to advocacy of the issue/s
OPEN DECLARATION of support for these issues

MAY OR MAY NOT BE INCLUDED in the agenda

Medium
ERRATIC INVOLVEMENT OR MOBIIZATION OF RESOURCES in
Support
activities related to the advocacy of the issue/s
CONSISTENT DECLARATION of support for these issues

ISNOT IN THE AGENDA

Low
VERY MINIMAL OR NO INVOLVEMENT AND NO MOBILIZATION OF
Support
RESOURCES in activities related to the advocacy of the issue/s
CONDITIONAL/SIMPLE DECLARATION of support for these issues
 NEUTRAL/Non Mobilized

Neutral or NOT IN THE AGENDA

non-
NO INVOLVEMENT OR MOBILIZATION
mobilized
OF RESOURCES
NO DECLARATION of support or
opposition for the issue/s
 (No information)
 OPPOSITION

High INCLUDED IN THE AGENDA of the policy actor

Opposition MOBILIZED RESOURCES / ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT in
activities related to advocacy of the issue/s

OPEN DECLARATION of opposition for these issues
Medium MAY OR MAY NOT BE INCLUDED in the agenda
Opposition ERRATIC INVOLVEMENT OR MOBIIZATION OF
RESOURCES in activities related to the advocacy of the
issue/s
CONSISTENT DECLARATION of opposition for these issues

Low IS NOT IN THE AGENDA

Opposition VERY MINIMAL OR NO INVOLVEMENT AND NO
MOBILIZATION OF RESOURCES in activities related to the
advocacy of the issue/s
CONDITIONAL/SIMPLE DECLARATION of opposition for
these issues
 What do we mean by resources that
stakeholders have and can mobilize?

• FINANCIAL RESOURCES (examples: personal

funds, congressional/legislative funds, funds
from supporters etc.)

• LEADERSHIP RESOURCES (examples: official

staff, authority over groups, family)

• ORGANIZATIONAL RESOURCES (examples:

networks, organizational affiliation, )
 Analysis of political maps can
result in the following
(1)

• Identify level of support for a policy issue

• Identify powerful and influential allies or

powerful and influential opponents (resistant
policy actors)

• Help create strategies and courses of action to

get the votes, reduce obstacles, and grab
opportunities
Analysis of political maps can result
in the following
(2)

• It can help identify potential alliances and

opposing alliances

• It can help identify potential and real

opportunities and obstacles
 Example of Observations and
Analysis of the Political Map
(1)

• A key to making policy change on

contraceptives is to move the unorganized
MWRAs to a position of support and to
empower their most articulate leaders and
individuals to begin speaking on the issue and
to project their strength as a significant voting
block. Launching an education and
information campaign will be very useful to
mobilize them.
 Example of Observations and
Analysis of the Political Map
(2)

• Conduct person-to-person advocacy with the

mayor with the view to firming up her support
of the policy issue and elevating her to the
status of policy champion. As a champion, she
can then reach out to the vice mayor and forge
a partnership, emphasizing the bi-partisan
nature of the issue. She can also reach out to
the religious organization making clear her
position that as a government official, she has
to do what she must to serve her constituents.
Thank You!!!