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The Defining Elements of Advocacy Coalitions: Continuing the Search for Explanations for Coordination and Coalition Structures
Author(s) -
Matti Simon,
Sandström Annica
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
review of policy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1541-1338
pISSN - 1541-132X
DOI - 10.1111/ropr.12011
Subject(s) - core (optical fiber) , normative , relevance (law) , set (abstract data type) , explanatory power , politics , power (physics) , political science , collective action , empirical research , positive economics , public relations , sociology , economics , epistemology , computer science , law , telecommunications , philosophy , physics , quantum mechanics , programming language
As the theoretical and practical interest in policy networks increases, so does the need for further research into how, and based on what rationales, actors within a policy subsystem engage in interorganizational collective action and form political coalitions. The aim of this paper is to continue the search for explanations for coordination and coalition structures in the setting of S wedish carnivore policy. Based on the A dvocacy C oalition F ramework ( ACF ) and a previous case study within the same policy subsystem, the study investigates a set of hypotheses regarding actors' coordinating behavior and the defining elements of coalitions. The empirical analysis indicates, in support of the ACF , that perceived belief correspondence is a better predictor of coordination than perceived influence. Moreover, the explanatory power of empirical policy core beliefs in general, and normative policy core beliefs in particular, is further reinforced, while deep core beliefs seemingly do not influence coalition structure. The relevance of more shallow beliefs for coalition formation cannot be dismissed and therefore calls for additional research.