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 Overview
of the tools
With the challenges of mapping political context in mind, this
guide introduces a series of tools designed to map various dimensions
of political context. The tools have been selected because they
cover a wide variety of political dimensions (as outlined below).
As such, they provide a menu of different approaches to mapping
political context; CSOs and others can select from this menu and
make use of the tools according to their own needs. (The World Bank's
Tools for Institutional Political and Social Analysis provides a
complementary source of information on tools for mapping context
and policy processes. See www.worldbank.org/tips)
Some of the tools take the nation-state as the unit of analysis;
others can be applied at any scale. Some tools focus on the mapping
of power, others on the mapping of institutions, organisations and
stakeholders. Some tools focus on formal institutions; others look
to map informal institutions too. The tools selected also cover
a great deal of ground in terms of the approach they take. Some
of the tools are clearly normative, others strive for objectivity.
Some work with qualitative data, others with quantitative. Some
of the tools can be used quickly and inexpensively, others require
large inputs of time and resources. Some are designed with a very
specific purpose in mind, others are not. Some enable cross-country
comparisons, others do not. In deciding which tool(s) to use, CSOs
need to think carefully about the sort of mapping they are interested
in. For instance, do they want to produce comparable maps of different
contexts, or will a detailed map of one context be adequate for
their purposes?
Each tool is presented as follows. First, each tool is described.
Secondly, a brief outline is provided of how the tool works. Thirdly,
an attempt is made to identify those elements of the tool that might
be of particular interest to CSOs. This third section is structured
in terms of three aspects for each tool: the conceptual approach
and indicators; the methods employed for sourcing and collecting
data; and the ways in which the tool works in terms of analysing
data, presenting results and recommending action.
Political context matters. Having clarified what they want to achieve,
CSOs will - by making selective use of the tools presented here
- be able to understand political context better, and engage more
effectively in policy processes.
Tools for mapping political context and dimensions
considered
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A tool for assessing and comparing civil societies, in order
to strengthen them. Dimensions: civil society's structure,
impact, environment and values.
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A framework for assessing countries' ability to use aid effectively.
Dimensions: governance institutions, policies, economic management.
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A framework for assessing democracy and governance, to design
effective approaches to promote democracy and improve governance.
Dimensions: players, interests, resources, objectives, rules,
institutional arenas.
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An approach for understanding the forces that bring about
change and the key policy and institutional 'drivers' for
poverty reduction. Dimensions: structure, agents, institutions.
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Governance Matters and Country Diagnostics are two components
of the World Bank Institute's approach to understanding and
improving governance. The former aggregates existing data
to come up with governance assessments. The latter enable
more detailed country-specific analysis of governance. Dimensions:
voice and accountability, political stability and absence
of violence, government effectiveness, regulatory quality,
rule of law, control of corruption.
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A questionnaire to enable the analysis of institutions, actors
and relationships, and to inform reform strategies. Dimensions:
state-society relations, political system, political culture,
politics and gender, economic policy and political framework
of markets, international integration.
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An approach to understanding context which focuses on the
nature and distribution of power. Dimensions: power and its
distribution.
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A range of techniques for understanding how stakeholders
relate to a particular issue, policy decision or action. Dimensions:
stakeholder interests and resources.
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An approach which measures governance by collecting expert
views on six key principles of governance. Dimensions: participation,
decency, fairness, accountability, transparency, efficiency.
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