The multiple streams APPROACH

Abstract

The Multiple Streams Approach (MSA) builds on Cohen et al.'s concept of organized anarchy and proposes that under conditions of ambiguity – defined as systems or situations characterized by problematic preferences, unclear technology, and fluid participation – policies are made on the basis of temporal sorting rather than rational problem-solving. The MSA was originally developed to explain agenda-setting and alternative specification processes in the United States. Since its initial formulation in 1984, the MSA has been applied to a wide range of contexts, levels, policy stages, and policy areas. The chapter also focuses on MSA applications to EU policy processes. It outlines which translational challenges and opportunities arise from transferring the MSA to the EU policy process. The EU has been accurately described as an organized anarchy, which makes MSA a promising analytical framework. The chapter describes the key assumptions and then summarizes the state of the literature addressing strengths and weaknesses.