Role Of Policy Entrepreneurs Research Articles

Translating ideas into action: Brazilian studies of the role of the policy entrepreneur in the public policy process

Over the past decades, research on policy formulation, especially research on agenda-setting, has demonstrated that the actions of individuals (or groups) labelled ‘policy entrepreneurs’ constitute a central aspect of the public policy process. Agenda-setting theoretical models (John Kingdon’s multiple streams model and Baumgartner and Jones’s punctuated equilibrium theory) view those actors from different perspectives, stressing different features of their role in the policy process. Both models consider the policy entrepreneur an essential actor in their explanations of policy maintenance or change. In Brazil, although the study of public policy has experienced periods of strong expansion during the past decades, there is still a lack of detailed data on the application of such models and the role of policy entrepreneurs in such analyses. This paper aims to present and discuss the centrality of policy entrepreneurs in agenda-setting models by analysing this important actor and the limits and contributions of this conceptualization for understanding the policy process. In addition, this research analyses the central role of the policy entrepreneur and presents empirical findings of Brazilian policy studies, thus highlighting implications regarding the concept for these three theoretical approaches.

Stability and change in flood risk governance: on path dependencies and change agents

This article presents a theoretical framework for the analysis of stability and change in national flood risk policies. Based on thorough scrutiny of existing theories on stability and change in the literature, we want to offer guidance for empirical studies on flood risk governance. On one hand, we elaborate theories of path dependency and institutional stability. On the other hand, we focus on the role of policy entrepreneurs and actor coalitions bringing in new ideas on how policies should be adjusted. We translate both angles to the realm of flood risks. Furthermore, we consider the role of trends and shock events. By integrating these perspectives into one comprehensive theoretical framework, we aim to offer guidance to empirical researchers searching for forces of stability and change in flood risk governance.

The Effect of Persuasive Messages on Policy Problem Recognition

Prior theories of individual behavior in recognizing public problems have centered on the role of policy entrepreneurs; institutional effects; information; and cultural, political, and social pressures. Our extension of these theories suggests that policy problem recognition is an attitudinal evaluation process. If the information is considered valid and the new attitude is negative in valence, then a policy problem is recognized. To test this theory, we use an embedded experiment in a national survey to measure the effect of persuasive messages on the concern for global warming. We find that the negativity of the message and the credibility of the source of the message both affect the level of increase in concern for global warming. Further, the impact of the message from the source is conditional based upon the recipient's ideology. This suggests that policy problem recognition is attitudinal and thus incorporates both analytical and affective components.

Water policy reform and innovation: A systematic review

A growing need for innovation in water policy is increasingly recognized within water policy and governance scholarship, but the types of innovation and changes being considered or undertaken, and the conditions that enable or hinder those changes remain unclear. A systematic review of water policy reform literature was undertaken to investigate how innovation is defined in this area of scholarship and the enabling conditions or barriers shaping the innovation process. The findings of the review demonstrated that the mainstream water policy reform scholarship that examines innovation is limited. A small portion of the water policy reform literature that addresses innovation considers different types of policy changes as innovative. Therefore, the results are used to propose a typology of water policy innovations. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that preliminary knowledge about the role of policy entrepreneurs, networks, social learning, adaptive approaches, and niche experiments in the innovation process emerge in a sub-set of the water policy reform literature.

경기도사이버도서관 설립의 정책형성과정 분석: 킹던의 정책흐름모형을 중심으로

본 연구에서는 개관 이래 지난 10여 년간 경기도 내 공공도서관의 발전의 중심 역할을 담당해 온 경기도사이버도서관 설립을 위한 의제설정 및 정책형성과정을 킹던(Kingdon)의 정책흐름모형을 적용하여 분석하였다. 킹던에 의하면 정책 형성은 문제의 흐름, 정책대안의 흐름 그리고 정치 흐름의 결합의 결과이며, 세 흐름이 결합될 때 열린 정책의 창을 통해 정책이슈가 정책의제로 나아간다. 이 때 정책선도자는 정책의 창에서 선호하는 대안을 제시하고 그것이 정책의 창을 통과하도록 노력한다. 본 연구에서는 경기도사이버도서관 정책의 의제설정과 대안의 선택 과정에서 문제의 흐름, 정치의 흐름, 그리고 정책의 흐름을 분석하고 정책의 창에서 정책선도자로서의 사서전문가집단이 어떤 역할을 했는지 분석하였다. 이러한 분석을 통해 정책형성과정의 메커니즘을 밝힘으로써 사서전문가집단이 앞으로의 도서관 정책형성과정에서 적용할 수 있는 시사점을 제시하였다.

Policy windows, ambiguity and Commission entrepreneurship: explaining the relaunch of the European Union's economic reform agenda

This article explains the relaunch of the European Union's (EU) economic reform agenda in 2010. After repeated delays during 2009, the European Commission scaled back its initial plan for a revived social dimension and instead proposed a strengthened governance architecture of economic surveillance. Using the multiple streams framework we argue that the new Europe 2020 strategy which emerged is a product of two overlapping policy windows which opened suddenly in the problem stream (the Greek sovereign debt crisis) and politics stream (shifting institutional dynamics). This created a window of opportunity for skilful policy entrepreneurs to ‘couple’ the three streams by reframing the existing Lisbon Strategy as the EU's exit strategy from the crisis. The article contributes to understanding policy change under conditions of ambiguity by demonstrating the causal significance of key temporal and ideational dynamics: the timing of policy windows; access to information signals; and the role of policy entrepreneurs.

Between the Laboratory and the Policy Process: Research, Scientific Community, and Administration in Japan's Chemical Biology

This article analyzes the emergent new discipline known as chemical biology as part of the rapidly developing postgenomic research agenda. Despite chemical biology's academic as well as political significance in terms of its expected contribution to drug discovery, the international STS community has failed to pay serious attention to its dynamism thus far. The objective of this paper is to fill this gap by conducting a case study on the rapid formation of the Japanese Association of Chemical Biology, which is a global pioneer, in 2006. By bridging different theoretical concerns, namely laboratory studies in STS and the study of policy process, particularly the theory of policy window by Kingdon, this paper analyzes how three different levels—laboratory practices, community of scientists, and policy process—are mutually constitutive, and why both Japanese scientists and policy makers believe that chemical biology is important both in science and policy. This paper will substantiate the all-encompassing notion of coproductionism given by Jasanoff, by emphasizing more specific instances such as the role of policy entrepreneurs, international competition, and sense of scientific tradition, which are crucial for enabling coproduction.

Policy entrepreneurs and post-conflict cross-border cooperation: a conceptual framework and the Israeli–Jordanian case

What is the role of policy entrepreneurs in shaping the dynamics which normalize relationships between neighboring countries after the formal resolution of conflict? This article suggests a conceptual framework to understand the influence of policy entrepreneurs on public policy regarding cross-border interaction in post-conflict border regions. We analyze the motivations, preferences and strategies of local players which design given realities in the border region. We propose a typology of the various policy entrepreneurs active in the post-conflict border region. The theoretical framework is used in the analysis of the Israeli–Jordanian border region since the peace treaty of 1994.

Decision-Making and Dissensus: Policy Uncertainty, the Media, and the Iraq Surge Debate

This paper examines national security policymaking under conditions of elite dissensus and how this policy uncertainty is reflected in the mass media. Previous research suggests that the American mass media tends to index the range of voices and viewpoints according to the views expressed in the mainstream government debate; much of this scholarship focuses on times of elite consensus. Policy uncertainty, however, provides the opportunity for other voices from outside of government to come into the mainstream debate. The often conflicting goals of political and bureaucratic actors, in conjunction with the immediacy associated with national security decisions, tend to exacerbate policy uncertainty. We evaluate the 2007 Iraq troop surge to explore policymaking and media sourcing during a period of elite dissensus, moving toward a better understanding of the interaction between policy entrepreneurs and the media. Examining congressional testimony and mass media accounts, we find that the composition of policy entrepreneurs in national security debates changes as elite consensus dissolves. The media reflects this dissensus, enriching the debate over foreign policy by giving space to non-governmental sources. From these findings, we derive broader implications regarding the role of policy entrepreneurs and the media in national security policymaking.

Tackling health inequalities in Norway: applying linear and non-linear models in the policy-making process

This article follows the Norwegian policy-making process on social inequalities in health applying models for policy development with focus on linear and non-linear movements. The focus is process-oriented following the introduction of a comprehensive, cross-sectoral strategy to tackle socioeconomic health inequalities in Norway. A case study design was selected and two theoretical frameworks have guided the research. Whitehead's model for health inequality intervention (2007) follows a linear theory-based logic, underpinning the idea that implicit or explicit theories or formulation of a distinct problem causally predicts design and outcome of policy programmes. The second approach is based on Kingdon's (2003) perception that policy-making often occurs unpredictably within independent streams of the policy formulation process. The model focuses on the non-linearity of the flow and timing of policy action. The present case suggests that both linear and non-linear models are necessary for understanding of the Norwegian policy-making process on social inequalities in health. Whitehead's model is a conceptual model focussing on the linear structure of the policy process, useful for identifying the different entry points for choice of direction in policy-making. Kingdon's multiple streams model is useful for gaining insight into the agenda-setting process that may be predictable, but may also be unpredictable and steer non-linear movements. The model identifies components necessary for a problem to rise on the political agenda with a particular focus on the role of policy entrepreneurs.

Water Management in Spain: the Role of Policy Entrepreneurs in Shaping Change

The role played by policy entrepreneurs in preparing, initiating, and implementing water policy change in Spain over the last two decades is examined in an effort to understand how transitions in water management occur. The main questions considered are whether policy entrepreneurs can influence water policy change, and which strategies they actually adopt to promote change. John Kingdon's multiple streams framework was used to assess the ways in which policy entrepreneurs succeed in challenging the dominant agenda, mobilizing alternative policy ideas, and making use of multiple venues for initiating policy change. The data set comprises secondary documentation and interviews with state and non-state actors involved in Spanish water management. The main findings are that policy entrepreneurs from certain social, scientific, and political organizations have indeed played a central role in fracturing the traditional and long-standing approach and decision making process to water management as well as in opening new avenues for policy change. The main implication is that accounts of water management transitions should place greater emphasis on the role of agency in bringing about policy change.

Realizing water transitions: the role of policy entrepreneurs in water policy change

This special feature aims to further our understanding of the way in which transitions occur in water management. We contend that if we want to understand such transitions, we need to understand policy change and its opposite, policy stability. These issues have attracted considerable academic attention. Our interest is, however, very specific and thereby unique: we review the role that (groups of) individuals play in the process of preparing, instigating, and implementing policy change. In this article, a review of the literature on policy change provides the basis from which we extract a set of strategies which are available to policy entrepreneurs. The questions for the rest of this special feature are first, can we detect the influence of policy entrepreneurs in actual cases of major policy change, and second, which strategies have they actually used to affect policy change?

Policy Entrepreneurs and Change Strategies: Lessons from Sixteen Case Studies of Water Transitions around the Globe

This paper focuses on the role of policy entrepreneurs in realizing water policy transitions. The central questions are to what extent have policy entrepreneurs played a role in realizing major change in water policies, who are these policy entrepreneurs, and what strategies have they used to bring about change? The policy science literature suggests that policy entrepreneurs have an arsenal of possible strategies for achieving change. Based on a comparative analysis of water policy changes in 15 countries around the globe and the European Union, we investigate which strategies have in practice been used by policy entrepreneurs, to what effect, and which lessons for managing water transitions we can draw from this. The comparative case analysis shows that individuals play complementary roles; hence, entrepreneurship in water management is often collective entrepreneurship. Strategies of coalition building, the manipulation of decision making forums, and the strategic framing of issues and windows are crucial to understanding water policy change, which suggests that the management of water policy transitions is a highly political game. We conclude by listing recommendations for those who would like to direct water policy change.

Editors' Notes

The fourth and final 2009 issue of PSJ showcases the international breadth as well as the rigorous theoretically-driven scholarship found in contemporary public policy research. Readers will find applications on implementation and network analysis, the multiple streams framework, the advocacy coalition framework, attribution theory, policy disruptions, and policy entrepreneurs. This issue features articles on a wide range of issue-areas, including poverty, welfare policy, central-bank independence, education policy, and lesbian, gay, and bisexual rights. As editors, we are proud to feature articles written by authors residing in New Zealand, the United States, Israel, and the Netherlands. We offer three articles on salient public policy issues. The lead article is a thought provoking piece contributed by Douglas Besharov and Douglas Call entitled, “Income Transfers Alone Won't Eradicate Poverty.” This article provides a controversial perspective on the effect of government transfer programs and whether what is commonly treated as “poverty” (and addressed with government transfer programs) is better conceptualized as “income inequality.” The argument is that income inequality is best remedied by raising income and human capital. Readers must not miss the empirical and logical rebuttal by Robert Plotnick and a reply by Besharov and Call. This exchange initiates what the Editors see as an occasional point/counterpoint exchange over especially provocative arguments. Next we explore what explains support for the rights of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals. Guided by attrition theory, Greg Lewis responds to this question by showing that growing support for rights of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals is largely explained by beliefs in the biological basis of homosexuality. We are also proud to present an analysis of the social welfare systems in the United States. Ae-Sook Kim and Edward T. Jennings Jr. present their work entitled, “Effects of U.S. States' Social Welfare Systems on Population Health.” Their paper addresses the consequences of the social welfare system on the population's health. Offering a rare sub-national analysis of social welfare and population health, the authors find that improved social welfare programs enhance a population's heath condition. Innovations in policy process research can be found in five articles. The first is another contribution to PSJ's ongoing synthetic review series. We are gratified to present PSJ readers a review and synthesis of the policy entrepreneur literature by Michael Mintrom in “Policy Entrepreneurship and Policy Change.” Mintrom's piece demonstrates that the policy entrepreneur is central to a number of distinct policy approaches, in particular when considering policy change. Mintrom will likely serve as a must read for any scholar seeking to contribute to our shared understanding about the role of policy entrepreneurs in policy processes. In “The Puzzle of the Diffusion of Central Bank Independence Reforms: Insights from an Agent-Based Simulation,” Orit Rapport, David Levi-Faur, and Dan Miodownik offer probably the first agent-based model inspired by Kingdon's multiple streams framework on the diffusion across governments of central bank independence. They place special emphasis on three aspects of the diffusion process: the likelihood of reform; the rate of adoption; and the time to the outbreak. Chris Ansell, Sarah Reckhow, and Andrew Kelly integrate the civic capacity literature and the advocacy coalition framework in “How to Reform a Reform Coalition: Outreach, Agenda Expansion, and Brokerage in Urban School Reform.” Ansell, Reckhow, and Kelly compare advocacy coalitions to relatively broad civic coalitions using social network analysis in an Oakland school district. Inspired by policy network analysis, Joop Koppejan, Mirjam Kars, and Haiko van der Voort describe a framework for dealing with legislative representation and executive power in terms of the content, evolution, and outcomes of the policy process. Drawing upon the politics in a Dutch province, they argue the merits of horizontal networks and vertical politics. Finally, Peter May explores how policy disruptions affect agendas across policy subsystems post the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001. May's important findings—that only limited system disruptions occur during a time of crisis—suggests that stressed bureaucratic systems deployed particularly stable subsystems as a means to buffer and minimize the threatening disruptions. As co-editors, we are doubly appreciative to the authors and reviewers for the quality of the submissions in this current issue. Once again, we encourage authors in the public policy community to continue to support PSJ bysubmitting your best manuscripts; to our referees, please note that your always thoughtful and constructive reviewsbenefit both the authors and the PSJ readership. Thank you.

THE POLITICS OF PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY

Politics, for better or worse, plays a critical role in health affairs. The purpose of this article is to articulate a role for political analysis of public health issues, ranging from injury and disease prevention to health care reform. It begins by examining how health problems make it onto the policy agenda. Perceptions regarding the severity of the problem, responsibility for the problem, and affected populations all influence governmental responses. Next, it considers how bounded rationality, fragmented political institutions, resistance from concentrated interests, and fiscal constraints usually lead political leaders to adopt incremental policy changes rather than comprehensive reforms even when faced with serious public health problems. It then identifies conditions under which larger-scale transformation of health policy can occur, focusing on critical junctures in policy development and the role of policy entrepreneurs in seizing opportunities for innovation. Finally, it reviews the challenges confronting officials and agencies who are responsible for implementing and administering health policies. Public health professionals who understand the political dimensions of health policy can conduct more realistic research and evaluation, better anticipate opportunities as well as constraints on governmental action, and design more effective policies and programs.

Legislative labyrinth: Congress and campaign finance reform

This engaging and accessible case study - of interest to those studying Congress, the policymaking process, or campaign finance reform - analyzes the contemporary policy making process through the lens of the recent effort to enact campaign finance reform. Written by two scholars who worked in key congressional offices as APSA fellows, Legislative Labyrinth offers an insider's perspective and fascinating insights that most other books on policy making do not. The book explores the many components of the legislative process: the use of unconventional legislative procedures; the role of policy entrepreneurs and issue leaders; the importance of political parties; and, the impact that outside forces (such as the president, interest groups, and the media) have on Congress' internal workings. The book also considers the policy questions raised by campaign finance reform and why this issue generates such intense debate within Congress. Arranged by topic, the book complements textbook coverage and gives students a thoroughly rich view of the process.