Top-Down

Definition

Top-down refers to governance change achieved by working within existing political institutions, in contrast to the ground-up approach.

Discussion

Top-down change involves introducing reform through the mechanisms of political institutions. While political institutions carry inherent incentives that may resist fundamental change, working within them remains a complementary strategy to ground-up initiatives.

Top-down approaches are in contrast with, and are necessarily complemented by, the ground-up approach.

Implementation

Traditional political activities serve as key mechanisms for top-down change, including:

• election or appointment to public office
• lobbying and engaging in public consultation
• administrative law
• litigation.