2022/10/28 by Johanna Kuenzler, Bettina Stauffer · 1 voice · 5 citations
Business, Management and Accounting · Social Sciences · #Policy Transfer and Learning #Political Influence and Corporate Strategies #Public Policy and Administration Research
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/psj.12482
openalex publication_date 2022/10/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
Abstract This article introduces the distinction between substance (questions of policy design) and process (questions of power in the policy process) to the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF). While both occur in existing NPF research, so far, they are not separated analytically. We conceptualize them as categories of the “policy dimension,” a new aspect of narrative content. Applying this dimension to an exploratory case, we show that such an analysis leads to useful insights for NPF scholars. Substance policy narrative elements show a debate about a policy's implementation model, whereas process policy narrative elements reveal that this debate is permeated by power conflicts. Furthermore, we find that the two categories' occurrence in narratives is influenced by the debate venue, whereas political parties as narrators do not seem to be relevant. The policy dimension allows for new research avenues and provides practitioners with a new tool to understand and intervene in policy debates.