Advancing Policy Theory with Cultural Theory: An Introduction to the S pecial I ssue

Abstract

Cultural Theory ( CT ) is a constructivist theory, developed by M ary D ouglas, A aron W ildavsky, and others, that seeks to participate in the positivist project of discovering, explaining, and predicting regularities in human behavior. S pecial I ssue contributions and this introduction suggest some ways in which this theory can help advance policy studies. One way CT can help is by further specifying other approaches to policy theory. Thus, H ank J enkins‐ S mith and his collaborators argue (and with respect to belief systems demonstrate) that the theory can be used to specify belief systems, coalitions, and causes of policy change in the A dvocacy C oalition F ramework ( ACF ); R ob R obinson uses CT to specify further both sources of resistance to policy change and sources of dramatic policy change in P unctuated E quilibrium T heory ( PET ); and C hristopher W eare, P aul L ichterman, and N icole E sparza use the theory to specify sources of collaboration in policy networks as well as sources of network dissolution. Other contributors argue and/or demonstrate that CT can help specify the culturally pluralized conditions for successful policy deliberation, the cultural sources of policy narratives, and how cultural biases are likely to interact with policy frames. This S pecial I ssue invites policy scholars to consider how the theory might help advance their research interests and the field.

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