LIST OF PANELS

For several decades, one of the defining features to the study of public policy has been the emergence and development of policy process theories.  Samples of these theories include the advocacy coalition framework (ACF), punctuated equilibrium theory (PET), multiple streams (MS), social construction theory (SCT), institutional analysis and development (IAD) framework, and others.   Similarly, public policy scholarly consists of concepts that comprise its theories and that are used in research (such as ideas, networks, institutions, etc.).   An emerging challenge with the growth of public policy scholarship is that many of the traditional theories and concepts are being applied in ways that were not originally imagined by their creators.  This panel seeks to explore strategies and difficulties of using traditional policy theories and concepts in untraditional ways.  This may include applications that somehow apply a given theory in an uncommon way for that theory, which may include applications outside of North America or Western Europe, applications at different scales (individual to international), applications using different methodologies, and applications in atypical substantive areas.  It may also include challenges in applying concepts in different contexts, theories, and empirical research.  The main point of this panel is to focus on the challenges in applying traditional theories and concepts in untraditional ways.   Questions to address should include boundaries and scope of public policy theories and concepts. 

For several decades, one of the defining features to the study of public policy has been the emergence and development of policy process theories.  Samples of these theories include the advocacy coalition framework (ACF), punctuated equilibrium theory (PET), multiple streams (MS), social construction theory (SCT), institutional analysis and development (IAD) framework, and others.   Similarly, public policy scholarly consists of concepts that comprise its theories and that are used in research (such as ideas, networks, institutions, etc.).   An emerging challenge with the growth of public policy scholarship is that many of the traditional theories and concepts are being applied in ways that were not originally imagined by their creators.  This panel seeks to explore strategies and difficulties of using traditional policy theories and concepts in untraditional ways.  This may include applications that somehow apply a given theory in an uncommon way for that theory, which may include applications outside of North America or Western Europe, applications at different scales (individual to international), applications using different methodologies, and applications in atypical substantive areas.  It may also include challenges in applying concepts in different contexts, theories, and empirical research.  The main point of this panel is to focus on the challenges in applying traditional theories and concepts in untraditional ways.   Questions to address should include boundaries and scope of public policy theories and concepts.