ABSTRACT
Pragmatism as a problem-solving approach necessitates the right application of pragmatism in policy process to the context. Pragmatism cannot be applied universally in a vacuum, devoid of context. Domestic institutions vary by country but common actors include politicians, bureaucrats, corporate interests, civil society. The actors’ roles are self-explanatory but the configurations and influence of different actors differ by country, thus linking political systems and pragmatism/non-pragmatism. Bounded rationality, satisficing and imperfect information are deemed as realistic assumptions that fuel misperceptions and groupthink, which are human limits that must be taken into account during interaction of structural and agential factors. Agential factors are different from structural factors insofar as that agents have volition and are able to determine a course of action, and carry it out. Domestic institutions vary by country but common actors include politicians, the bureaucrats, corporate interests, civil society.
