LIST OF PANELS

GENERAL OBJECTIVES, RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND SCIENTIFIC RELEVANCE

The policy process is complex requiring theoretical approaches to simplify it, help guide in its study, and offer descriptions and explanations.  One such theoretical approach is the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF).  With about 30 years of conceptual development and research under it, the ACF remains one of the most established and applied theoretical approaches to understanding aspects of the policy process in the world.  Applications now span political systems and multiple policy issues where knowledge is accumulating about policy change, learning, and, especially advocacy coalitions. 

General Objectives

The general objectives of this panel is to advance the study of public policy and policy processes by exploring and discussing the variety of ACF scholarship that might span across different country-contexts, span across different topics, use different methods of data collection and analysis, and explore theoretical/conceptual improvements to the framework.  The main goal of this effort is to tackle phenomena central to the study of policy process and to make clear how the ACF is making a contribution.

Scientific Relevance

The general objectives fall at the heart of the study of policy processes.  Stated more generally, this includes the phenomenon of political mobilization of people and organizations in what might be called the pressure system to influence government particularly outside of elections, the phenomenon of policy change via outputs of government decision-making venues (possibly regulation, legislation, and many other types), and the phenomenon of adaptation and belief change through learning from information, experiences and other stimuli over time.   This panel will tackle these phenomena collectively through four sessions that touches upon methodological innovations, innovative approaches to network analysis, how the ACF integrates with other theoretical approaches, and a focus on theoretical insights on policy change.  

We also expect this panel to contribute to the ongoing discussion of ACF-related phenomena by its research community.  Scientific evidence builds up as networks of scholars work together under a shared vernacular to advance similar research questions and publications build populate the field via journals and publishers.  This panel will contribute to this effort by integrating scholars under the same research program toward the goal of scientific advancement.

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