In an era of political polarization and fiscal austerity, policy debates too readily become trapped in a binary of either universal responses or targeted solutions. Universal responses enjoy a degree of legitimacy in a diverse and pluralistic society, but they may also be viewed as unaffordable and overly ambitious, while also inadequate at helping those most in need. Therefore, the most marginalized people are often the most skeptical of ostensibly universal policies. Targeted policies may be more efficient and less costly, but by targeting a particular group, these approaches are often viewed as unfairly helping one group over another, seeding hostility and resentment.
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Targeted universalism means setting universal goals pursued by targeted processes to achieve those goals. Within a targeted universalism framework, universal goals are established for all groups concerned. The strategies developed to achieve those goals are targeted, based upon how different groups are situated within structures, culture, and across geographies to obtain the universal goal. Targeted universalism is goal oriented, and the processes are directed in service of the explicit, universal goal.
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Among the core strengths of the targeted universalism framework is its potential for ingenuity and boldness in policy thinking, which opens up the possibilities for experimentalist design in a nuanced fashion that rejects an “either-or” approach.
Targeted universalism is a platform to operationalize
programs that move all groups toward the
universal policy goal as well as a way of communicating
and publicly marketing such programs in an
inclusive, bridging manner. It is an approach that
supports the needs of particular groups, even the
politically powerful or those in the majority, while
reminding everyone that we are all part of the same
social and civic fabric. As such, targeted universalist
policies are more resistant to the critique that
government programs serve special interests, whoever
that might be.
We urgently need aligned and coherent strategies that create belonging and promote bridging.
Targeted universalism provides an approach for
orchestrating these efforts. Targeted universalistic
interventions undermine active or passive forces
of structural exclusion and marginalization, and
promote tangible experiences of belonging. Outgroups
are moved from societal neglect to the
center of societal care at the same time that more
powerful or favored groups’ needs are addressed.
The implementation strategies derived from a targeted
universalism framework come in many forms.
Some may be simple technical fixes or modest
changes to existing programs. Others may be more sweeping changes or deeper structural reforms.
Although the targeted universalism framework
supports a wide range of policy interventions, the
process for deriving implementation strategies unlocks
the potential for transformative change. Such
changes cannot arise without unraveling the narrow
range of preconceived implementation possibilities
held by many policymakers and reconstructing
aspirations for an equitable society in which everyone
can thrive. By emphasizing the universal goal
as a way of justifying a diversity of implementation
strategies, transformative change possibilities can
be envisioned, pursued, and aligned.
This primer is offered in the spirit of sharpening and contributing to a large body of policy models. Targeted universalism is a platform that jettisons an overly formalistic, one-size-fits-all policy formula in favor of an approach that is more outcome-oriented.
As such, targeted universalism opens up the
possibilities for experimentalist, manifold pathway
policy regimes. It is a framework that adds nuance
that can complement and accommodate the best
work within the domain of innovating policy change.
This type of agenda requires deliberate strategizing,
ground-truthing, and smart organizing. The growing
community of powerful policy, advocacy, community-
based organizations and others can meet the
challenge. Indeed, they are already well on the way.
Listen to an interview with Director john a. powell on targeted universalism
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