In-Depth Analysis of the Bacchi Framework in Policy Studies

This essay provides an overview of the Bacchi framework, a policy analysis tool developed by Carol Lee Bacchi. The framework focuses on analyzing the discursive approaches related to policy by questioning the representation of the problem rather than seeking immediate solutions. It draws from intellectual traditions such as feminist body theory, governmentality studies, post-structuralism, and social constructionism. The framework employs six key questions to examine the problem's representation, underlying presuppositions, sources, potential solutions, unaddressed aspects, and the effects of these representations. By understanding these problem representations, the framework aims to address the material and emotional impacts on affected individuals, offering insights into the similarities and dissimilarities across various problem representations. Desklib provides a platform for students to access similar solved assignments and study resources.

Running head: BACCHI FRAMEWORK
BACCHI FRAMEWORK
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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What is the Bacchi framework?
The Bacchi framework refers to the policy framework that had been put forth by the
Carol Lee Bacchi in her book “Analysing policy: what's the problem represented to be?” (Bletsas
and Beasley 2015). The framework aims to analyze the various discursive approaches that are
related to the concerned policy in discussion. The associate professor of Politics at the University
of Adelaide further discusses that the problems that are faced by the several policies are
constructed socially. These problems are known to arise at different times and across a variety of
the spaces that are specific to certain spaces within the given policy.
The concerned framework that is being discussed deals with the matters that pertain to
the factors that are related to the four different intellectual traditions. These traditions might
include the various theories like the theory of the feminist body, the studies that pertain to the
governmentality. The Bacchi framework further refers to the theories of the post-structuralism
and that of the social construction as well. The approach discussed by the eminent professor of
the attempts to provide a certain conceptual framework. This conceptual framework is observed
to guide the concerned process of the analysis (Bletsas and Beasley 2015). The framework
generally utilizes a set of six questions that bear relevancy to the matters that pertain to the
manner in which the policies might be presented within the given policy.
The first question generally discusses the problem that is represented within the policy or
the proposal of the policy. The second question that is discussed within the framework is the
question of the various pre-suppositions that might underpin the present representation of the
identified problem. The third question in the matters tend to discuss the factors that are related to
the source and of the given representation of the identified problem. The fourth question
discusses the different manners in which the given problem might be addressed. The fourth

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question further aims to pay heed to the areas that have been considered unproblematic within
the given organization. This particular question also attempts to throw light on the silences that
are discussed within the concerned representation of the problem. The framework further
attempts a discussion on the effects that have been produced through the provided
representations of the identified problem (Bletsas and Beasley 2015). The last question deals
with the representation of the problem that is related to the production, the dissemination and the
defence of the problems. This question also deals with the questioning, disruption and
replacement of the representation of the problem that is discussed within the representation of the
problem.
The approach that has been put forth by the eminent professor tends to analyze the given
policy from the perspective of questioning the problem and not from the perspective of solving
the problem that has been identified within the given scenario. The Bacchhi framework tends to
discuss the matters regarding the presumptions that might lead to the arousal of the given
problems. The Bacchi framework attempts to discuss the matters that are related to the
representations of the concerned problems (Bacchi 2009). This might help in the material impact
of the concerned problem representations on the lives of the people who have been affected
directly by the concerned representations of the identified problems. The problems that have
been detected tend to influence the various matters that are related to the similar grounds (Bacchi
2009). The various similarities and the dissimilarities within the representations of the problems
might help in the matters related to the emotional as well as the material distresses that are faced
by the concerned members within the given family or the society at large.
Thus, from the above discussion, it might be pointed out that the Bacchi framework
majorly deals with the policy framework that aims to analyze the various discursive approaches

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that are related to the concerned policy in discussion. The Bacchhi framework tends to discuss
the matters regarding the presumptions that might lead to the arousal of the given problems
References
Bacchi, C.L., 2009. Introducing a ‘what’s the problem represented to be?’approach to policy
analysis’. Analysing Policy: What’s the Problem Represented to Be, pp.1-24.
Bletsas, A. and Beasley, C., 2015. Engaging with Carol Bacchi. Strategic Interventions and
Exchanges (p. 168). University of Adelaide Press.