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Policy networks and the GM crops issue: assessing the utility of a dialectical model of policy networks
Author(s) -
Toke David,
Marsh David
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
public administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.313
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1467-9299
pISSN - 0033-3298
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9299.00344
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , dialectic , insider , process (computing) , policy analysis , key (lock) , network structure , economics , positive economics , political science , computer science , epistemology , computer security , public administration , law , geography , philosophy , archaeology , machine learning , operating system
A dialectical model of policy networks is deployed to analyse policy change in the area of GM crops in the UK. The model uses an analysis of the interaction between agents and structure, network and context and network and outcomes to understand and explain how policy change has occurred. A key advantage of the model is that it increases understanding of network transformation, explanation of which has been an alleged weakness of the policy network approach. However, this case study does throw up some weaknesses with the model, including the tendency of the model to emphasize the role of ‘insider’ agents and downplay the role of ‘outsiders’ in the policy process.