The Impact of Informal Actors on Public Policy-Making: Political Parties in Algeria as a Model

Abstract

This study examines the role of informal actors in the public policy-making process, focusing on the experience of political parties in Algeria as a model. The research problem stems from the premise that public policy is the core of the political process and a true indicator of a system's effectiveness; it is no longer the exclusive domain of formal state institutions but rather the result of a complex interaction involving parties, interest groups, and public opinion. Through a descriptive-analytical approach and an institutional framework, the study deconstructs the conceptual basis of public policy and its characteristics, tracing its stages from problem formulation to implementation and evaluation. Focusing on the Algerian context, the research tracks the historical transition from a one-party system to political pluralism, analyzing the political landscape across its national, Islamist, and secular currents. The study concludes that the influence of Algerian political parties on policy-making still faces structural challenges related to the dominance of the executive branch and the phenomenon of "personalized parties" centered around individual charisma. These factors have led to institutional weaknesses and internal fragmentations that limit the actual impact of these parties on political system outputs, leaving their role contingent on existing power balances and the specific nature of the policy being implemented.