In countries worldwide, polls indicate significant levels of dissatisfaction and low trust in governments. For example, the 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer revealed that only 43% of respondents trust the government in Canada, while figures are even lower in countries like South Africa, Brazil, and South Korea. Such trends are indicative of a pervasive lack of confidence in governments’ ability to address crucial policy challenges.

This lack of confidence often stems from past failures in public policy implementation. When citizens repeatedly witness governments failing to fulfill policy promises or effectively execute initiatives, they lose faith in the government’s capacity to deliver results. Similarly, public officials may also experience diminished confidence in their own abilities when faced with repeated implementation failures.

This cycle of “public policy futility” perpetuates itself, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy where past failures breed skepticism about the potential for future success. Many governments and policy practitioners find themselves trapped in this cycle, doubting their capacity to enact meaningful policy changes.

Recognizing this dilemma, the Building State Capability (BSC) program, along with other policy communities, has sought ways to break free from the public policy futility trap. Through applied work and research, strategies have emerged to enhance implementation capabilities within policy communities.

The core idea is simple: interrupting the futility trap requires policy communities to develop the capacity to implement their ideas effectively. While the concept is straightforward, the execution is complex. It demands a shift in mindset and a willingness to embrace new approaches to implementation.

The BSC program is at the forefront of efforts to address this challenge. The new Implementing Public Policy (IPP) program at the Harvard Kennedy School offers a unique opportunity for policy executives to embark on a seven-month journey of learning and action. Participants will work on real policy problems with their teams, blending online, in-person, and applied action learning methods.

By actively engaging in implementation responsibilities and exploring innovative management techniques, participants in the IPP program aim to overcome the public policy futility trap. Moreover, they will become part of a vibrant community committed to improving public policy implementation worldwide.

In essence, escaping the public policy futility trap requires a concerted effort to build implementation capabilities and foster a culture of learning and adaptation within policy communities. The IPP program represents a pioneering step towards this goal, offering a transformative experience for policy executives seeking to make meaningful change in their respective spheres.