Describe Paul Sabatier’s Advocacy Coalition Framework and explain how it works

Assignment Brief

In this paper, you are required to explain the Paul Sabatier’s Advocacy Coalition Framework along with the following points:

• The working process of Paul Sabatier’s Advocacy Coalition Framework
• Present your viewpoints about the productivity of Paul Sabatier’s Advocacy Coalition Framework in evaluating the agenda-setting process
• Provide your stance with references
• Explore the nature of the Paul Sabatier’s Advocacy Coalition Framework

Instructions 

Describe Paul Sabatier’s Advocacy Coalition Framework and explain how it works. Do you believe it is an effective way to analyse the agenda-setting process? Why, or why not? The Advocacy Coalition Framework is one of the most influential approaches to public policy to emerge from the 1990s. Explore the nature of the approach.

Sample Answer

Paul Sabatier’s Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF): Overview and Analysis

Introduction

Paul Sabatier’s Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, is a prominent approach in the study of public policy. It offers a structured method for understanding how policy change occurs over time within complex political systems. The ACF highlights the role of coalitions, groups of actors who share core beliefs, in influencing policy decisions and the agenda-setting process.

Working Process of the ACF

The ACF operates on the assumption that public policy subsystems involve actors from various institutions, including government agencies, interest groups, researchers, and media organizations. The framework emphasizes the following key components:

1. Policy Subsystems: Focus on specific policy domains (e.g., health, education) rather than entire governments. These subsystems are the arenas in which coalitions operate.

2. Advocacy Coalitions: Coalitions consist of actors who share policy beliefs and coordinate to influence policy outcomes over time. Coalitions may include bureaucrats, legislators, interest groups, and researchers.

3. Belief Systems: ACF differentiates between deep core beliefs (fundamental values), policy core beliefs (positions on policy issues), and secondary aspects (implementation strategies). These beliefs shape coalition strategies and decisions.

4. Policy-Oriented Learning: Coalitions engage in learning, often through research and empirical evidence, which can lead to gradual policy change.

5. External Shocks and Events: Significant events, such as elections, economic crises, or technological innovations, can disrupt existing coalitions and create opportunities for policy change.

6. Long-Term Perspective: The ACF emphasizes that meaningful policy change typically occurs over 10–25 years, making it a tool for analysing long-term dynamics rather than short-term policy shifts.

Nature of the ACF

The Advocacy Coalition Framework is characterized by several distinct features:

• Interdisciplinary Approach: It draws from political science, sociology, and economics to provide a holistic view of policy processes.

• Focus on Beliefs and Values: Unlike rational-choice models that emphasise individual interests, the ACF prioritizes shared beliefs as drivers of coalition behaviour.

• Complexity and Dynamics: The framework accommodates multiple actors, competing coalitions, and evolving policy environments, reflecting the reality of modern governance.

• Emphasis on Learning and Adaptation: Coalitions adapt over time through policy-oriented learning, research integration, and negotiation with other coalitions.

Productivity in Evaluating the Agenda-Setting Process

The ACF has proven productive in analysing agenda-setting for several reasons:

1. Clarity on Stakeholder Influence: It identifies how different coalitions advocate for specific policy issues, explaining why some topics gain prominence while others are ignored.

2. Recognition of Long-Term Change: Agenda-setting is not instantaneous; the ACF captures gradual shifts in policy attention resulting from coalition strategies.

3. Integration of External Factors: Economic, social, and political events are considered in how they reshape coalitions and influence which issues reach the policy agenda.

4. Empirical Utility: Numerous studies have successfully applied the ACF to sectors such as environmental policy, healthcare reform, and energy policy, demonstrating its analytical robustness.

Critique: While the ACF is highly effective in explaining long-term policy change and agenda-setting, its complexity and focus on long timescales may limit its applicability to short-term or rapidly evolving policy crises. Moreover, some critics argue that its emphasis on shared beliefs may understate the role of power and strategic maneuvering in policy adoption (Sabatier & Weible, 2014).

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