Understanding Policy Change

Introduction to Policy Process Theories

POSC 315: Introduction to Public Policy

Lecture 2-2


David P. Adams, Ph.D.

Why Study Policy Process Theories?

Theories help us:

  • Understand how policies change over time
  • Identify key factors in policy development
  • Predict when change might occur
  • Analyze past policy successes and failures

Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework (MSF)

Policy windows open when three independent streams converge:

  • Problem Stream: Issues gaining attention (e.g., opioid crisis)
  • Policy Stream: Available solutions (e.g., harm reduction policies)
  • Politics Stream: Political conditions (e.g., bipartisan support for intervention)


Example: The Clean Air Act amendments of 1990, where environmental crises, policy solutions, and political leadership converged.

Key Components of the Three Streams Model

Key Components:

  • Policy Entrepreneurs: Individuals or groups who promote policy solutions
  • Policy Windows: Opportunities for policy change when the streams align
  • Coupling: The process of linking the streams together

Advocacy Coalition Framework

Policy change through competing belief systems

  • Groups form around shared beliefs
  • Compete to influence policy
  • Learn and adapt over time


Example: The long-term debate between environmentalists and the fossil fuel industry over climate policies.

Technical Details: Advocacy Coalition Framework

The ACF involves:

  • Coalitions: Groups of actors who share beliefs and coordinate actions
  • Policy Subsystems: The focus of coalitions' activities, such as specific policy areas
  • Policy Brokers: Individuals who mediate between coalitions


Example: Coalitions of environmental groups and industry representatives in the energy policy subsystem.

Key Components of the ACF

Key Components:

  • Belief Systems: Deep core beliefs, policy core beliefs, and secondary aspects
  • Policy Learning: Changes in beliefs or strategies based on new information
  • External Events: Factors outside the subsystem that can influence policy change


Example: The impact of economic crises or natural disasters on policy learning and coalition strategies.

Punctuated Equilibrium Theory

Policy changes through:

  • Long periods of stability
  • Sudden, dramatic shifts
  • New policy "equilibrium"


Example: Major civil rights legislation, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which marked a sudden shift after years of incremental change.

Key Components of PET

Key Components:

  • Policy Images: How issues are perceived and understood
  • Venue Shopping: Efforts to move issues to favorable decision-making arenas
  • Policy Entrepreneurs: Actors who promote significant changes


Example: The shift in gun control policy debates following high-profile mass shootings.

Summary

Key Takeaways:

  • Policy process theories help us understand and predict policy changes
  • Kingdon's MSF highlights the convergence of problem, policy, and politics streams
  • The Advocacy Coalition Framework focuses on belief systems and coalition dynamics
  • Punctuated Equilibrium Theory explains long periods of stability interrupted by sudden changes

Use these frameworks to analyze and interpret policy developments in your term paper.

Looking Ahead: Term Paper

You'll apply these theories to analyze a policy of your choice

  • Choose a policy issue that interests you
  • Select one or more theories to analyze it
  • Build your analysis step by step

First step: Topic selection due Week 4