A commentary on Manazir non-linear policy process model

The policy cycle (process) model is the oldest public policy analytical tool, developed by Harold Laswell in 1957. Since the 1980s, the framework has come under intense criticism, especially for its linearity or neat policy stages approach, lack of falsifiable hypotheses, and difficulties in establishing causal linkages among its components. Surprisingly, the policy cycle framework remains relevant in guiding the public policy process and research despite the new frameworks developed to address its shortcomings. Additionally, it continues to generate special issues in various journals to assess the status of the policy cycle model, with the most recent one in 2021, in which the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Policy Practice and Research revealed the overwhelming usefulness of the policy stages framework. Interestingly, Manazir (Discover Global Soc 1:16, 2023) renovates the policy cycle into a non-linear framework, which silences the criticism of linearity. The current paper, therefore, revisits Manazir’s non-linear policy process framework, commends its innovations, identifies gaps, and provides refinements to its representation. In particular, the paper introduces more policy process pathways and highlights the significance of their utility in contested and non-consolidated democracies.