The Politics of Non-Decision Making: Policy Silence as a Strategy of Power in Contemporary Governance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63671/ijsesr.v2i3.156Keywords:
Non-decision making, policy silence, power dynamics, agenda-setting, governance, political exclusionAbstract
This article examines the politics of non-decision making as a strategic exercise of power in contemporary governance systems. Drawing on Bachrach and Baratz's seminal work on non-decisions and extending it through critical policy analysis, this study investigates how policy silence functions as a deliberate mechanism for maintaining power structures and controlling political agendas. Through a synthesis of theoretical frameworks and empirical observations across multiple governance contexts, the research demonstrates that what remains unsaid, unaddressed, or deliberately excluded from policy discourse often reveals more about power dynamics than formal policy decisions themselves. The article argues that non-decision making constitutes a sophisticated form of political control that operates by preventing certain issues from entering the policy arena, thereby protecting dominant interests while maintaining the appearance of democratic governance. This analysis contributes to understanding the subtle yet profound ways in which power operates in modern political systems through strategic silence and agenda limitation.
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