LIST OF PANELS

During the last few decades, the interest in policy processes generated a number of formal theoretical explanation. Among them are the Advocacy Coalition framework (Sabatier, Hank Jenkins-Smith 1993), Punctuated equilibrium theory (Frank R. Baumgartner and Bryan D. Jones 1993), Multiple streams approach (Kingdon 1984), Policy styles theories (Richardson et al. 1982), Policy Design & Policy Capacity framework (Howlett et. Al 2018), Pragmatic Approach to Public Policy (Zittoun 2014), and some others. Each of them makes its own unique contributions explaining the multidimensional and complex nature of public policy and policy change. In doing so, they attempt to grasp the multiactor nature of policy-making. Variety of actors in public policy is reflected in such terms as policy communities, policy coalitions, and, finally, policy networks. The results of policy-making are dependent on activity and configuration of such policy networks and various conditions, or factors, that are situational depending on configuration of certain combinations. Social Network Analysis, as a methodological framework, provides us with terms, methods, and quantitative statistical techniques that allow us to model the complicated policy processes for a given policy, and provide an opportunity to and develop theories of policy processes that go above and beyond what other instruments provided. At present time, however, we still lack empirical research - verification and validation of developed theories.

We welcome papers that use Social Network Analysis to test a particular policy that models the complexity of policy-making as a conjunction of variety of actors and factors external to the policy actors’ activity. The papers can use a variety of SNA techniques: policy networks visualizations, calculation of centrality measures, building social influence, and social selection models, ERGM models, longitudinal network analysis, multimode and multilevel networks. We also welcome papers that are testing a variety of hypotheses, but they should be aimed at answering the questions about the reasons why policy networks influence policy change. The special concern of this panel is to test, challenge, verify, and validate the current and developing theories of policy process.