Learning From Comparative Public Policy

Step 8

Can a lesson be applied?

A country can move forward as it is, in spite of what it is, and because of what it is.

Albert Hirschman, Journeys toward Progress

Even if a lesson appears desirable and the pressure of events creates a demand for action, this does not guarantee that you can apply it at home. For this to happen, there must be space to introduce a new programme into an already crowded set of government commitments; there must be the resources to implement it; and there must not be crosscultural misunderstandings that lead to a mismatch between what a lesson requires and the beliefs and practices of the government adopting it. Only if all three conditions are met can you hope to apply a lesson in practice.

Finding ‘space’ for a ...