Agenda Setting and Policy Formation of The Map Ta Phut Social Enterprise Policy

Abstract

The research article consisted of the following objectives: 1) to investigate the agenda setting of Map Ta Phut social enterprise policy by multiple stream models consisting of problem stream, political stream, and policy stream; 2) to explore whether the agenda setting of Map Ta Phut social enterprise policy can respond to the policy objectives in terms of laws and other relevant policies; and 3) to study whether the formation of Map Ta Phut social enterprise policy follows the policy entrepreneur model. The study used a qualitative research technique, conducting documentary research and in-depth interviews with two policymakers, five persons from relevant government sectors, and six policy stakeholders. Interviews, documents, and a seminar were used to collect data for the study. Descriptive content analysis was used to examine the collected data. 

From the study, the following results are found: 1) Agenda setting of Map Ta Phut social enterprise policy can be described by multiple stream models starting from  the problem stream that there was dispute over pollution in the industrial estate area; the political stream that originated from the political shift in B.E. 2557 with the use of the Interim Constitution B.E. 2557, which caused the National Reform Steering Committee on Energy Reform to become more interested in such a problem and report to the Cabinet in the year B.E. 2560; and lastly, the policy stream that resulted from a change in the implementation of the Constitution in B.E. 2560, in which the National Reform Steering Committee on Energy Reform recommended the topic of 'Stakeholder involvement to minimize conflict in society' as the main issue in energy management reform. When all three streams converged, a policy window opened and the policy agenda was pushed, 2) The agenda setting is able to respond to the policy objectives if the policy agenda is clear, leading to the policy formation; and 3) The formation of the Map Ta Phut social enterprise policy is the result of a problem being raised by the National Reform Steering Committee on Energy Reform, which is made up of experts with knowledge and experience in energy; as a result, the policy formation is based on the policy entrepreneur model.