Gerry Stoker, Daniel Devine & Brenton Prosser

In their recent article, Gerry Stoker, Daniel Devine and Brenton Prosser introduce and develop the concept of policy fatalism, understood as the belief that governments are unable to address some of the most important problems facing society. The article argues that this captures a distinct orientation towards public policy and examines how such views are expressed across different issue areas, how they vary across groups, and how they relate to political attitudes. 

The authors position policy fatalism alongside, but distinct from, existing concepts. While debates on “wicked problems” emphasise complexity and difficulty, they do not necessarily imply that problems cannot be addressed. Policy fatalism, by contrast, centres on the view that effective policy responses are unlikely. The article also distinguishes policy fatalism from personal fatalism, which concerns individuals’ sense of control over their own lives. Policy fatalism instead focuses on collective challenges and the perceived limits of public action.