Role Of Policy Entrepreneurs Research Articles

Assessing the contributions of an urban population health initiative to shift political priority towards cardiovascular health: three case studies from Brazil, Mongolia and Senegal

BackgroundThe urban population health initiative was designed as a multidisciplinary, multisector programme to address cardiovascular (CV) disease, specifically hypertension and its underlying causes in the cities of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Dakar, Senegal; and São Paulo, Brazil. This article aims to provide an overview of the history and dynamics of CV disease policy making in the three countries, to present the policy reform contributions of the initiative and its role in the policy agenda-setting framework/process in each country and to identify the enablers and challenges to the initiative for doing so.MethodsA qualitative case study was conducted for each setting from November 2020 to January 2021, comprised of a document review, semi-structured in-depth interviews and unstructured interviews with stakeholders involved in the initiative. The literature review included documents from the initiative and the peer-reviewed and grey literature with a total of 188 documents screened. Interviews were conducted with 21 stakeholders. Data collection and thematic analysis was guided by (i) the Kingdon multiple streams conceptual framework with the main themes being CV disease problems, policy, politics and the role of policy entrepreneurs; and (ii) the study question inquiring on the role of the urban population health initiative at the CV disease policy level and enabling and challenging factors to advancing CV disease policy. Data were thematically analysed using the Framework Method.ResultsEach setting was characterized by a high hypertension and CV disease burden combined with an aware and proactive political environment. Policy outcomes attributed to the initiative were updating the guidelines and/or algorithms of care for hypertension and including revised physical and nutritional education in school curricula, in each city. Overall, the urban health initiative’s effects in the policy arena, were most prominent in Mongolia and Senegal, where the team effectively acted as policy entrepreneur, promoting the solutions/policies in alignment with the most pressing local problems and in strong involvement with the political actors. The initiative was also involved in improving access to CV disease drugs at primary health levels. Its success was influenced by the local governance structures, the proximity of the initiative to the policy makers and the local needs. In Brazil, needs were expressed predominantly in the clinical practice.ConclusionsThis multi-country experience shows that, although the policy and political environment plays its role in shaping initiatives, often the local priority needs are the driving force behind wider change.

From creeping crisis to policy change: The adoption of drought preparedness policy in Brazil

Abstract This paper aims to understand the national-level policy change that occurred in Brazilian drought management, whereby the policy shifted from reactive crisis management to a drought preparedness approach. We found that a combination of factors supported the policy change, such as the interplay of multiple drought events in different regions of the country, the length and timing of these events, attention paid to the issue, and the role of policy entrepreneurs and political entrepreneurs in connecting solutions to the problem. The analysis is based on the multiple streams framework (MSF), which includes two windows of opportunity: an agenda window, to account for the juncture at which the drought issue appeared on the political and public agenda; and the decision window, when a drought preparedness instrument was designed and adopted. We contribute to the literature on policy change in the wake of a disaster by showing how a long-duration event sparked policy change and by shedding light on the role of creeping crises as focusing events; and we contribute to the MSF literature by analytically distinguishing the features of the agenda and the decision window and by applying the theory to a Latin American context.

Never let a serious crisis go to waste: the introduction of supplemental carbon taxes in Europe

AbstractThe literature on carbon pricing offers competing explanations for the introduction of carbon taxation. This article contributes to the field by highlighting the interaction of dynamic political factors and external pressures in explaining the timing of the adoption of carbon taxes. Focusing on the second wave of European countries, the study combines the multiple streams framework with qualitative comparative analysis to identify conditions favourable to the introduction of carbon taxes. Additional case studies on Ireland and Portugal serve to illuminate the reform process, especially the role of policy entrepreneurs. This approach yields three insights. First, fiscal crises provide political actors with an opportunity to raise environmental taxes. Second, the introduction of carbon taxation is most likely when push and pull factors come together, i.e. when high problem pressure coincides with governments receptive to environmental issues. Finally, the prospects of “green” policy entrepreneurs are strongly determined by their standing within the government.

Failed It or Nailed It: A Historical-Comparative Analysis of Legislating Bushmeat Ban in China

One of the prominent policy responses to COVID-19 by the Chinese government is a recent complete ban on trade and the consumption of wild animals for food use purposes. Despite some discussions and debates in media coverage, the policy has not obtained much scholarly discussion from a public policy perspective. This article aims to fill the research gap by examining the policy formation process of the complete ban. The study conducts a historical-comparative analysis of the three legislative attempts on the bushmeat ban in 2004, 2016, and 2020, applying the multiple streams framework (MSF). We identify six key explanatory factors contributing to the successful formulation of the strictest-ever bushmeat ban. Five corroborate with the problem, policy, and political streams respectively: (i) the existence of an exogenous zoonosis-related crisis as background (problem stream); (ii) the attention and support from the top-level political leaders (political stream); (iii) the national mood (political stream); (iv) proposals from both internal and external policy advisors and experts (policy stream); and (v) feasibility of the proposed solutions (policy stream). The sixth—the role of policy entrepreneurs—serves as a fundamental driving force in shaping and coupling the three streams.

COP26 as an opportunity to further democratise the Green Climate Fund

COP26 as an opportunity to further democratise the Green Climate Fund

Climate policy integration: taking advantage of policy windows? An analysis of the energy and environment sectors in Mexico (1997–2018)

ABSTRACT Given the crosscutting character of climate change, improving our understanding of its integration into sectorial policy domains is relevant. We contribute empirically with a case study in Mexico where we analyze climate policy integration in terms of policy outputs and processes. Firstly, we adapted an approach to measure events of regulatory output change and applied it to our original dataset of changes in Mexican environmental and energy laws and regulations between 1997 and 2018. Secondly, based on expert interviews and using the multiple streams as theoretical framework, we explored the role of policy entrepreneurs on influencing policy change towards climate policy integration, in particular the enactment of the law for energy transition in 2015. The Energy Reform in 2013, which aimed at increasing private participation in fossil fuels production, was framed as a solution to the problem of ‘uncertainties over oil reserves and energy demand growth’. Paradoxically, policy entrepreneurs advocated for a transition toward clean electricity as a solution to the same problem. They also identified the 21st UNFCCC Conference of the Parties as an event influencing the political stream and opening a window of opportunity for the enactment of the law for energy transition.

Street‐level bureaucrats as policy entrepreneurs: Action strategies for flexible community governance in China

AbstractStreet‐level bureaucrats (SLBs) can act as policy entrepreneurs to cope with the dilemmas in policy implementation. However, there is insufficient knowledge about whether the strategies adopted by them that SLBs in the role of policy entrepreneurs are institution sensitive. In addition, there is insufficient knowledge regarding the elements that impel and support such entrepreneurial actions. Based on China's community governance, this article attempts to clarify the strategies employed by SLBs to that result in their becoming policy entrepreneurs. It was observed that the Chinese SLBs primarily employed three strategies to act as policy entrepreneurs, which shows that different institutional contexts may shape the various strategies. This article indicates that the opportunity structure of the institution, in this case, the Chinese bureaucracy, enables SLBs to act entrepreneurially and the success of these strategies is also dependent on the SLBs' accountability and communication skills.

Policy factors influencing the establishment of state outdoor recreation offices

The first state-based office of outdoor recreation was established in 2013, and other states took notice. Within six years, thirteen additional states had established outdoor recreation offices – six of which were established in 2019. By applying concepts explored through policy innovation and diffusion theory, this research provides insight into the rapid acceleration of the creation of state outdoor recreation offices. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of policy entrepreneurs and diffusion mechanisms. Specifically, we analyze the potential role of the policy learning, economic competition, and geographic proximity diffusion mechanisms. Data collected from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with state office leadership and non-profit organizations suggest that the policy learning mechanism acts most strongly to drive the establishment of state outdoor recreation offices or similar entities. By creating networks of government agencies focused on outdoor recreation, government officials and outdoor recreation advocates can facilitate further learning about and development of these offices. Management implicationsThis research suggests that the most expedient pathway toward a state outdoor recreation office is through peer-to-peer policy learning. Participation in the National Governors Association Outdoor Recreation Learning Network can help facilitate this policy learning process for state governments. State governments are also encouraged to work directly with a sponsoring state, which is required to sign onto the Confluence Accords. In doing so, states with existing offices can systemically transfer their institutional knowledge to other state governments. While this paper focuses on the outdoor recreation offices themselves, the broader implication is that states with effective outdoor recreation offices are positioned to provide direct, institutional support for expanding outdoor recreation opportunities and their associated economic, social, and environmental benefits. This research focuses on this phenomenon in the United States, however learning networks could facilitate opportunities for learning amongst global governmental agencies looking to support outdoor recreation as well.

Party politics and civil society: The role of policy entrepreneurs in nuclear power politics in Taiwan

AbstractThis article analyzes the development of nuclear power politics in Taiwan since 2016. In particular, it attempts to identify changing and/or recurring patterns of interaction between parties/politicians and civil society. Although more fluid forms of interest representation have emerged in recent decades, partisan strategies are still useful tools for social movements, especially as environmental/energy issues are highly politicized. Thus, existing institutional channels such as referendums and elections easily become battlefields for pro‐ and anti‐nuclear camps. How do the relevant actors in nuclear power politics interact regarding the current Democratic Progressive Party government's plan for a nuclear power phase‐out? While adopting a mechanism‐based approach, this article focuses specifically on explicating the interactions between parties/politicians and civil society. This article particularly highlights the role of civil society organizations and their activists, who straddle the line between political parties and civil society. These actors demonstrate both potential and limitations when it comes to changing the dynamics that exist between relevant actors in an iron triangle.

The role of policy entrepreneurs in defining directions of innovation policy: A case study of automated driving in the Netherlands

As directionality is acknowledged as an essential component of contemporary innovation policies, questions have been raised about how and by whom the directions of innovation policy are set. Despite considerable attention on this matter, contributions have not explored the policy process of directionality, nor examined empirical cases to study directionality in practice. Considering these gaps, this paper presents an in-depth case study of the Dutch Automated Driving initiative that was developed under a smart mobility agenda with transformative aims (2013–2018). This initiative was rapidly championed by policymakers, and the agenda geared almost exclusively to its development. To study the policy processes therein, we used an adapted version of the Multiple Streams Framework (MS) (Kingdon, 1984). MS suggests that directions of policy change are determined by institutional entrepreneurs who have access to policy venues. We found that these entrepreneurs used political strategies (e.g. framing, problem-solution coupling) to champion automated vehicles as a transformative technology. However, eventually the transformative potential promises were not kept, leading to policy failure. In contrast, entrepreneurs’ self-interests dominated the policy implementation phase. This paper suggests that more attention should be given in how directions set in the early policy phases can be kept throughout the policy process.

Kingdon's multiple streams approach in new political contexts: Consolidation, configuration, and new findings

AbstractThere is a need to conduct more diverse cross‐case analyses in the Multiple Streams Approach (MSA) literature which originated in the United States, to show how key concepts, such as a windows‐of‐opportunity and the role of policy entrepreneurs, manifest in different political contexts. We apply Qualitative Comparative Analysis for a cross‐case analysis of a unique dataset representing 20 countries from four continents. This approach allows us to highlight distinct pathways to influencing policies. We identify four configurations for expanding civic spaces and two configurations for changing policies. We identify three findings novel to MSA: there are two distinctive policy entrepreneur roles involving local and international civil society actors; effective entrepreneurship is conditional on strengthening civic voice and creating civic space conducive to advocacy; and, therefore, effective entrepreneurs often must focus on expanding the civic space to discuss policy problems and the technical and political feasibility of policy solutions.

Developing and supporting the Next Generation Science Standards: The role of policy entrepreneurs

AbstractDrawing upon interviews with key actors involved in the development of and support for the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in the United States, this article shows how a potentially controversial reform came to be actively supported by senior educators. We utilize Kingdon's (2003, Agendas, alternatives, and public policies, 2nd ed.) concept of policy entrepreneurs to highlight how these educators navigated a complex and contested policy and political environment. We reveal the cogency of Kingdon's argument that specific agendas are dependent upon the coupling of particular problems with relevant policies and political support. However, at particular moments in time, the findings also show how those engaged in the NGSS found it beneficial to uncouple federal accountability agendas that would have limited support for the NGSS.

Innovation and Its Discontents: Pathways and Barriers in the Diffusion of Assertive Community Treatment.

Originating at the county level in Wisconsin in the early 1970s, Assertive Community Treatment is one of the most influential mental health programs ever developed. The subject of hundreds of research studies and recipient of enthusiastic backing from private advocacy organizations and government agencies, the program has spread widely across the United States and internationally as a package of resources and management techniques for supporting individuals with severe and chronic mental illness in the community. Today, however, ACT is associated with a rising tide of criticism challenging the program's practices and philosophy while alternative service models are advancing. To trace the history of the Assertive Community Treatment movement, a diffusion-of-innovation framework was applied based on relevant concepts from public policy analysis, organizational behavior, implementation science, and other fields. In-depth review of the literature on ACT design, management, and performance also provided insight into the program's creation and subsequent evolution across different settings. A number of factors have functioned to fuel and to constrain ACT diffusion. The former category includes policy learning through research; the role of policy entrepreneurs; ACT's acceptance as a normative standard; and a thriving international epistemic community. The latter category includes cost concerns, fidelity demands, shifting norms, research contradictions and gaps, and a multifactorial context affecting program adoption. Currently, the program stands at a crossroads, strained by the principle of adherence to a long-standing operational framework, on the one hand, and calls to adjust to an environment of changing demands and opportunities, on the other. For nearly 50 years, Assertive Community Treatment has been a mainstay of community mental health programming in the United States and other parts of the world. This presence will continue, but not in any static sense. A growing number of hybrid and competing versions of the program are likely to develop to serve specialized clientele groups and to respond to consumer demands and the recovery paradigm in behavioral health care.

A Multiple Streams Analysis of Institutional Innovation in Forest Watershed Governance

AbstractIncreasingly severe wildfires have focused attention on forested watershed vulnerabilities, causing significant changes to policies and governance. We utilized the Multiple Streams Approach (MSA) to understand institutional innovations of federal agency–large water provider partnerships in Colorado to protect watersheds through joint planning and funding. Ambiguous problem definition and focusing events were significant aspects of these partnerships. We interviewed individuals in the partnerships, with MSA ideas of how solutions to policy problems develop, and the role of policy entrepreneurs. We found that wildfires served as focusing events, creating space and time for learning, collaboration and new problem framing, increased political attention, and institutional innovation. In this study, windows of opportunity stayed open longer, policy entrepreneurs and agencies played larger roles in communication and coupling streams and the context of fast‐moving, unpredictable ecological crises changed responses to issues. Our findings also have implications for broader policy studies and environmental governance scholarship.

Framing, agency and multiple streams– a case study of parks policy in the Northern Territory

ABSTRACTThere is increasing interest in the role of agency in policy processes for creating effective change. In this paper I explore the critical role of policy entrepreneurs in both creating and capitalising on windows of opportunity through creative framing of issues. I combine Kingdon’s multiple streams framework of the policy, problem and politics streams with the three types of social movement framing – diagnostic, prognostic and motivational – to analyse a case study of pragmatic and innovative policymaking in Australian Indigenous policy. I find that pragmatic policy entrepreneurs used framing to actively refine available policy solutions, particularly in response to structural barriers, and played an active role in brokering the problem in ways to make it politically acceptable. This confirms the importance of ideational processes, and the critical role of framing, in creating windows of opportunity for significant reform.

Influencing resilience: the role of policy entrepreneurs in mainstreaming climate adaptation.

One way to make development pathways more resilient in the face of a changing climate has been through mainstreaming adaptation into government policies, planning and sectoral decision‐making. To date, many of the transferable lessons have taken the form of technical approaches such as risk assessments and toolkits. This article instead draws on evidence from South Asia to emphasise some of the more tacit and informal approaches used to influence adaptation policy. Despite their apparent significance in policy processes, such tactics are often neither planned for nor well reported in resilience‐building projects and programme documents. Using evidence to populate a typology of influencing strategies, this article looks particularly at the role of policy entrepreneurs who navigate the political complexity of both formal and informal governance systems to promote successful adaptation mainstreaming. It concludes with recommendations for adaptation and resilience programming that can more effectively harness the breadth of influencing strategies.

Policy transfer and role of policy entrepreneur in international aid: exploring international development cases of Korea and Vietnam

ABSTRACTThis paper looks at how an innovative policy comes to be transferred to another country and be successfully implemented. We explore three key dimensions (time, location, and people) in policy transfer studies using two cases of international aid (Saemaul Undong and e-Government projects). Utilizing a case study method, this paper upholds the predominant role of the policy entrepreneur over the environment (different time frame and different social, political, economic systems). The stakeholder analysis shows that policy entrepreneur’s role is critical in making policy transfer successful. In part, this argument is in line with previous “Advocacy Networks” studies, such as that of Keck and Sikkink (1998), highlighted the importance of policy entrepreneurs being able to navigate in the networks of international development. This paper aims to contribute to the literature by applying Dolowitz and Marsh’s policy transfer framework in the international aid context and calls for further empirical research employing the network analysis method.

Seeing the forest, missing the field: Forests and agriculture in global climate change policy

As the climate change problem becomes more eminent, there is more pressure to increase efforts in all sectors and countries. The land-use sector is seen as an option to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and key in achieving a balance in GHG emissions and removals by sinks by 2050, as envisioned in the Paris Agreement. This article presents two comparative case studies within the climate change arena and aims to understand how and why: 1) tropical deforestation and forest degradation have secured a prominent place on the international climate change agenda, while 2) agriculture has not secured a prominent place. We use the agenda-setting multi-stream approach (MSA), while adding a framing layer. Based on primary data (including an international workshop with forest and agriculture experts, interviews, and participation in key international meetings), and secondary data, this article concludes that REDD + is an example of how a condition was framed as a problem, a viable proposal was developed, and political will and receptivity was shown, all of which placed REDD + high on the agenda, and generated its legal and methodological framework over the course of ten years. In these efforts, the role of policy entrepreneurs was key. Agriculture, on the other hand, is a more complex sector with multiple interests and millions of stakeholders. The consideration of agriculture, in particular its mitigation component, is therefore a highly contentious issue. The fear of new binding commitments and the potential threat to food security and production, and the lack of a convincing proposal that addresses the multiple values of agriculture has impeded substantive progress. Also, the absence of a committed policy entrepreneur limits the place of agriculture in the climate change agenda under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Policy entrepreneurs in national climate change policy processes

The multi-level and multi-actor character of the international climate governance regime, as well as the imminent need for action to combat climate change, stimulates the introduction of new and innovative cross-sectoral policy proposals by policy entrepreneurs. To date, academic literature has extensively studied and discussed the importance of policy entrepreneurs for agenda-setting. The role of policy entrepreneurs in providing continuous support for a new climate policy resulting in its implementation, has on the other hand, so far received only little attention. Taking the Norwegian Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation commitment as an exemplary case, this paper explores the potential of entrepreneurial engagement throughout a country’s climate policy-making process. It aims to demonstrate the importance of policy entrepreneurs beyond agenda-setting, namely for the policy formulation phase in which responsibilities for the implementation are designated to governmental bodies. We refer to this step as institutional anchoring. Following an explorative approach, this paper shows that different types of actors – non-governmental organisations and governmental actors – act as policy entrepreneurs. It demonstrates the roles and importance of policy entrepreneurs for not only gaining, but also maintaining attention on a new policy by means of coalition building and framing.

The role of policy entrepreneurs in open government data policy innovation diffusion: An analysis of Australian Federal and State Governments

Open government data (OGD) policy differs substantially from the existing Freedom of Information policies. Consequently OGD can be viewed as a policy innovation. Drawing on both innovation diffusion theory and its application to public policy innovation research, we examine Australia's OGD policy diffusion patterns at both the federal and state government levels based on the policy adoption timing and CKAN portal “Organization” and “Category” statistics. We found that state governments that had adopted OGD policies earlier had active policy entrepreneurs (or lead departments/agencies) responsible for the policy innovation diffusion across the different government departments. We also found that their efficacy ranking was relatively high in terms of OGD portal openness when openness is measured by the greater number of datasets proactively and systematically published through their OGD portals. These findings have important implications for the role played by OGD policy entrepreneurs in openly sharing the government-owned datasets with the public.