INCOMPLETELY THEORIZED AGREEMENTS
Reach workable consensus in health policy and public health decision-making
WHAT IS IT?
Policymakers should be able to reach workable consensus as they make health policy and public health decisions. Rather than using tools such as a strict majority vote and blind allegiance amidst division and wide disagreement, policymakers can promote consensus through incompletely theorized agreements (ITAs) to make choices about societal investments and social life.
This approach to collective decision-making is not uniformly theorized at all levels. While it values agreement on foundational questions, it believes that agreement on abstract political ideology is less useful for legal purposes and ordinary politics. This means that people can have various religious affiliations and political ideologies yet still find common ground for the common good. People rarely agree on all aspects and at all theoretical levels when solving social problems.
Equitable and efficient decisions in health policy and public health require coming together through consensus about common problems that require common solutions. We will not agree on all things at all times, so minor disagreements can be tolerated while making equitable and efficient decisions in fields of public health and public policy.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Sound, effective and efficient decision-making in public health and health policy is important. Policymakers and the public want to see positive progress and outcomes that occur both equitably and efficiently. Achieving consensus through incompletely theorized agreements makes this possible, and it can allow for reasoned public policy development and analysis amidst pluralism and conflicting views.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Incompletely theorized agreements are not uniformly theorized at all levels, occur amidst pluralism and conflicting views, and focus on specific outcomes rather than political ideologies. It occurs when people put aside their differences and competition to find their common humanity and solutions to societal problems.
HOW DO WE DO IT?
Incompletely theorized agreements take place at all levels, including governmental and policy-making. Institutions and policymakers should make an active effort to make equitable and efficient decisions about public health and health policy using this approach.
We should use incompletely theorized agreements for different policy problems to identify areas of common ground and develop consensus. Then, we can build on our consensus about these problems to strengthen trust and obtain further agreements on different policies and proposals. With this foundation of accord, shared interests, and common ground, we will be better able to develop and implement public health and health policies for everyone across disagreements and divisions.