Which is the first stage in the policy process?

The first stage in the policy process is agenda setting. This stage is crucial as it involves identifying issues that require government attention and prioritizing them on the policy agenda. During agenda setting, various factors come into play, including public opinion, interest group advocacy, and media coverage. By effectively bringing issues to the forefront, policymakers and stakeholders can begin to consider which problems they need to address through policy initiatives.

This process sets the stage for subsequent steps in the policy cycle, such as policy formulation, where specific solutions are developed, and policy adoption, where chosen policies are officially sanctioned. Without agenda setting, there would be no framework for formulating or adopting policies, as the issues would remain unacknowledged. Therefore, it serves as the foundational step in the overall policy-making process.