The Narrative Policy Framework, Agendas, and Sanctuary Cities: The Construction of a Public Problem

Abstract

In this paper, we utilize narratives about sanctuary cities as an exploratory case study to suggest further development of the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF). We propose the inclusion of elements from the Multiple Streams Approach (MSA)—the ideas of focusing events, evidence, policy entrepreneurs, timing, policy windows—and the general agenda setting literature's concept of translation of narratives among different policy agendas to extend the NPF in theoretically meaningful ways. Then we use these ideas in an exploration of recent narratives about sanctuary cities in order to increase understanding of the role of policy narratives and agenda setting within public policy processes. Our exploratory questions and findings demonstrate the usefulness of adding elements of the MSA to the NPF. First, we suggest that an emotionally powerful story can create a formidable focusing event which can be used by policy entrepreneurs, even if the construction of the event is dominated by one media outlet. Second, our preliminary results show that studying narrative policy windows provides a methodological challenge; it is difficult to determine how long a policy narrative remains powerful and relevant. Finally, our findings reveal both similarities and differences of narratives between different policy agendas.

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