Examples of sweeping social change realized through the incremental model in public policy include civil rights and racial equality, women's voting rights, and gay rights.
Incrementalism is a model of public policy making that describes policy as the product of marginal, small adjustments, or increments, building out from existing policies. Rather than representing radical departures or comprehensive reforms, policy changes occur gradually over time through a series of limited, specific actions.
The Science of 'Muddling Through'
The widespread use and understanding of incrementalism in political science were significantly influenced by Charles E. Lindblom. In his influential 1959 essay, "The Science of 'Muddling Through'," Lindblom argued that policymakers often deal with complex issues not by engaging in exhaustive, rational analysis of all alternatives (a comprehensive or rational-comprehensive model), but by making limited, sequential choices based on past experiences and existing policies. This process, often described as "muddling through," leads to gradual adjustments rather than large-scale overhauls.
Real-World Examples of Incremental Policy Change
As highlighted by the reference, significant societal transformations have been achieved through this incremental approach:
- Civil Rights and Racial Equality: The struggle for civil rights and racial equality in many countries, particularly in the United States, was not won overnight with a single piece of legislation. It involved decades of protests, court cases, legislative acts (like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965), and ongoing policy adjustments at local, state, and federal levels. Each step, while significant, built upon previous efforts and often addressed specific facets of discrimination or inequality, leading to cumulative change over time.
- Women's Voting Rights: The movement for women's suffrage also demonstrates incrementalism. It involved sustained activism, state-by-state campaigns, and eventual federal action (like the 19th Amendment in the U.S.). The right to vote was achieved through a long process of advocacy and policy adaptation, rather than a sudden, complete transformation of political rights.
- Gay Rights: The advancement of gay rights is another example of incremental change. It has involved evolving social attitudes, challenging discriminatory laws through courts, enacting anti-discrimination policies piece by piece (e.g., in employment, housing, military service), and eventually achieving landmark victories like marriage equality in some countries, often through a series of legal and legislative steps building on prior partial successes.
These examples illustrate how major societal changes can be the result of numerous small, incremental policy adjustments and legal battles rather than a single, grand design or revolutionary act.
