Exploring the People’s Housing Process: An application of the 1986 Rhodes Policy Network model

Abstract

A formal policy supporting the People’s Housing Process (PHP) was released in 1998. This policy and subsequent support measures in many ways mandates a policy implementation network. The South African Department of Housing’s (DOH) interpretation of self-built housing as expressed in the PHP should, however, be regarded as a response to and reflection of survival strategies that had already been employed by communities prior to 1998. The researcher therefore turned to the policy network literature to explore PHP project characteristics. The central research question was whether the 1986 Rhodes Policy Network model is a useful heuristic device for exploring PHP project characteristics. This was done by first subsuming network characteristics as contained within the 1986 Rhodes model under appropriate network dimensions. Using case studies, indicators were then developed for the presence of various network characteristics.

Keywords: Policy networks, People’s Housing Process, self-built housing, heuristic model

’n Formele beleid wat die People’s Housing Process (PHP) ondersteun is in 1998 bekendgestel. Hierdie beleid en daaropvolgende ondersteuningsmaatreëls het op verskeie wyses ‘n beleidsimplementeringnetwerk vereis. Die manier waarop die Suid-Afrikaanse Departement van Behuising selfboubehuising geïnterpreteer het, moet egter as ‘n reaksie tot en weerspieëling van bestaande oorlewingstrategieë gesien word wat voor 1998 deur gemeenskappe gebruik was. Die navorser het dus beleidsnetwerkliteratuur bestudeer om PHP projekkenmerke te ondersoek. Die sentrale navorsingsvraag van die studie was om te bepaal of die 1986 Rhodes beleidsnetwerkmodel ‘n toepaslike heuristiese model is om PHP projekkenmerke te ondersoek. Hierdie vraag was benader deur die netwerkkenmerke wat binne die 1986 Rhodes beleidsnetwerkmodel voorkom onder toepaslike dimensies te plaas. Deur die gebruik van gevallestudies is aanwysers vir die teenwoordigheid van verskeie projekkenmerke ontwikkel.

Sleutelwoorde: Beleidsnetwerke, People’s Housing Process, selfboubehuising, heuristiese model