Transnational Policy Process: Analytical Framework

Abstract

The contemporary national policymaking process is generally acknowledged to be subject to influences from both the internal and the external environment. However, existing studies diverge when it comes to specifying the mechanisms by which external factors, especially transnational actors, impact national policies. For instance, basing their discussions on the disparities of power between international and domestic actors, some studies mostly blame transnational influence in policy on the structural imposition of policy prescriptions attached to development assistance (Amin, 1976; Galtung, 1971; Loxley, 1990). Conversely, institutionalists’ studies show how international regimes, conventions and treaties impact national policies, and how such international actors and norms are mediated by national institutions. Such studies maintain that national norms and policies are not wholly replaced by those diffused globally but are translated to “fit” into a particular national and institutional context (Campbell, 2004; Czarniawska, 2012; Pierson, 1996). In another vein, ideational mechanisms are deemed to provide explanations of how TNAs interact with the national policy process. This logic suggests that policy decisions are shaped by a process of interpretation filtered by ideational elements. From this perspective, the construction of frames and discourses by policy actors around particular ideational elements such as norms and beliefs, is critical and informs action. Because such frames and discourses provide information to policymakers and are interpreted in a specific manner depending on the unique features of the national policy environment, such as cultural norms and identities to inform action (Béland & Orenstein, 2013; Bleich, 2002; Parsons, 2007; Schmidt, 2010). Moreover, other studies point to psychological factors like cognitive shortcuts and heuristics—to explain policy reforms that originate externally (Weyland, 2005a, 2005b, 2008). This chapter examines existing studies on transnational policy processes and also presents the analytical framework that underpins this study.