This paper examines the assumptions of the Rational Man （RM） model familiar in social and political studies. It is observed that the model is too restrictive in its explaining events and behavior in social and polit...This paper examines the assumptions of the Rational Man （RM） model familiar in social and political studies. It is observed that the model is too restrictive in its explaining events and behavior in social and political situations. It is suggested that the assumptions of RM model should be relaxed using the familiar methods and techniques of elementary formal logic. The concept of relevance is then introduced to take account of a ＂weaker＂ formal requirement in an attempt to explain events and processes in human action and/or behavior. The concept of ＂justification by reasons＂ is then introduced as a necessary though not sufficient requirement of explaining events and processes in social and political studies展开更多
Using an analytical narrative approach to understand policy change, this paper explores the Brazilian government decision to create a digital TV policy initiating major reforms in this sector. The analysis is centered...Using an analytical narrative approach to understand policy change, this paper explores the Brazilian government decision to create a digital TV policy initiating major reforms in this sector. The analysis is centered on the actors, preferences, and choices. The article is divided into three parts： （1） We address the historical institutionalism assumptions; （2） We focus on the politics of digital TV policy in Brazil; and （3） The results are highlighted, and ＂winners＂ and ＂losers＂ are identified. Actors, preferences, and choices are historically observed and related to the government decision about rules of digital TV exploitation. It provides configurational evidence that makes it possible to associate major changes to two presidential decrees （n° 4.901/2003 and n° 5.820/2006） that reflect the preferences and behavior of the main actor （broadcasters, social movements, and federal government） around the new digital TV issues. The Brazilian case shows an institutional model in which federal government＇s decisions are strongly connected with the preferences of the actor broadcasters and goes against the actor social movements.展开更多
文摘This paper examines the assumptions of the Rational Man （RM） model familiar in social and political studies. It is observed that the model is too restrictive in its explaining events and behavior in social and political situations. It is suggested that the assumptions of RM model should be relaxed using the familiar methods and techniques of elementary formal logic. The concept of relevance is then introduced to take account of a ＂weaker＂ formal requirement in an attempt to explain events and processes in human action and/or behavior. The concept of ＂justification by reasons＂ is then introduced as a necessary though not sufficient requirement of explaining events and processes in social and political studies
文摘Using an analytical narrative approach to understand policy change, this paper explores the Brazilian government decision to create a digital TV policy initiating major reforms in this sector. The analysis is centered on the actors, preferences, and choices. The article is divided into three parts： （1） We address the historical institutionalism assumptions; （2） We focus on the politics of digital TV policy in Brazil; and （3） The results are highlighted, and ＂winners＂ and ＂losers＂ are identified. Actors, preferences, and choices are historically observed and related to the government decision about rules of digital TV exploitation. It provides configurational evidence that makes it possible to associate major changes to two presidential decrees （n° 4.901/2003 and n° 5.820/2006） that reflect the preferences and behavior of the main actor （broadcasters, social movements, and federal government） around the new digital TV issues. The Brazilian case shows an institutional model in which federal government＇s decisions are strongly connected with the preferences of the actor broadcasters and goes against the actor social movements.
