MODELS AND PHASES OF THE POLICY CYCLE: DEFINITIONS, APPLICATIONS, AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES

Abstract

This study aims to analyze how academic literature defines and applies the policy cycle, identifying the constitutive phases of different models and discussing their theoretical and methodological implications. To this end, an integrative literature review was conducted between July and September 2025, with searches in the SciELO, LILACS/BVS, Redalyc, DOAJ, Google Scholar, and open-access journals. The strategy involved descriptors in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, resulting in 120 initial records. After screening and applying the PRISMA protocol, the final sample comprised 11 articles and two key reference works (Secchi, 2016; Howlett; Ramesh; Perl, 2013). The analysis revealed that the policy cycle remains a central framework due to its didactic and heuristic usefulness, although it is often criticized for its linearity. Classic five-stage models (agenda-setting, formulation, decision-making, implementation, and evaluation) remain predominant but have been challenged by proposals that incorporate new stages, such as problematization and political legitimation, or that emphasize monitoring, enforcement, and accountability. Other studies highlight the circularity and the political nature of problem definition, suggesting non-linear versions of the cycle. The results indicate that, although consolidated as an analytical and pedagogical scheme, the cycle should be applied critically and contextually. Its contemporary relevance lies in its adaptability, enabling a better understanding of the complexity of decision-making processes and shedding light on different dimensions of public policies.