The world is in the grip of a crisis that stands unprecedented living memory. COVID-19 pandemic urgent, global scale, and massive impacts. Following Harold D. Lasswell's goal for policy sciences to offer insights into unfolding phenomena, this commentary draws on lessons literature understand dynamics related COVID-19. We explore ways which scientific technical expertise, emotions, narratives influence decisions shape relationships among citizens, organizations, governments. discuss varied...

In public policy processes, collective learning among actors is important in shaping how these processes unfold and the types of outcomes that may result. Despite a widespread interest by scholars, researchers face number conceptual theoretical challenges studying across different settings within processes. this article, we offer theoretically grounded approach to defining understanding collective‐level learning. learning, first draw out connection between products, both cognitive...

Many of society's most vexing problems must be solved through collaborative arrangements. Growing scholarly interest in collaboratives recognizes that the capacity for collective learning may play a critical role their success. However, limited theoretical or empirical research exists to explain how occurs and conditions support this context. In article, we draw upon wealth literature, ranging from organization theory, policy process change, network analysis, establish framework guide...

This article explores the emergence of collaborative institutional arrangements for managing natural resources in large‐scale and complex resource settings, among numerous political jurisdictions stakeholders. It examines four regional institutions United States: Northwest Power Conservation Council's Fish Wildlife Program, Chesapeake Bay CALFED Bay‐Delta Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. While a wealth literature has looked at smaller‐scale management institutions, some begun to...

Summary Cities are embedded within larger‐scale engineered infrastructures (e.g., electric power, water supply, and transportation networks) that convey natural resources over large distances for use by people in cities. The sustainability of city systems therefore depends upon complex, cross‐scale interactions between the system, transboundary infrastructures, multiple social actors institutions govern these infrastructures. These elements, we argue, best studied an integrated manner using...

Abstract This paper investigates the beliefs and framing strategies of interest groups during a period policy change factors explaining change. We develop propositions to explore questions concerning primarily from advocacy coalition framework as well other theorie. The are tested by examining promulgation Colorado regulation requiring disclosure chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. Using coded data documents published organizations involved rulemaking process, we find divergence between...

This article extends the Institutional Analysis and Development Framework's seminal research on common pool resource (CPR) management in new directions by exploring how design principles of robust enduring CPR management, initially proposed Elinor Ostrom 1990, can be used to measure assess cross‐scale institutional linkages. study examines data from 14 interstate river basin compacts western United States identify types linkages established these settings, factors that contribute emergence...

Intensified globalization, especially the necessity to learn more about how administrative reforms work effectively in different cultural contexts, requires public administration research embrace comparative perspectives. How well is field advancing that direction? This article presents results of a content analysis 151 articles from 2000 2009. Results indicate building on theory and empirical research, making use purposive samples, using mix causal, descriptive, exploratory methodologies....

Why a special issue on polycentricity in EP&G?Polycentric governance involves multiple overlapping centers of decision-making, which interact within an overarching set rules.Within the field environmental governance, advantage polycentric systems is that they are supposed to help manage crossscale issues and address complex interrelationships our social systems.While not new, we have seen growing attention scholarship forms governance.These appear be widespread globally -across government...

Institutions are strategies, norms, and rules embodied in public policies and/or social conventions. They reflect establish expectations about who can do what, where, how, often employed for resolving collective action dilemmas other kinds of governance challenges. Given their salience, science scholars have dedicated substantial effort to developing analytical approaches understanding the design, function, performance institutions. Particularly valuable that generalize across institutional...

Collaboration is commonly used to deliver public services that reach beyond the individual capacities of independent organizations. Although much literature in fields collaborative governance has offered theoretical insights explain how stakeholders might initially enter into processes or design can support continued stakeholder participation over time, not effectively studied what factors drive actors engage one another a particular conversation discussion during process, nor affect whether...

Abstract For decades, institutional scholars have embraced the concept of polycentricity as a way to describe systems governance with multiple, overlapping centers authority. However, intellectual progress on has been constrained by inconsistent conceptual measurement, an overemphasis small‐ n versus large‐ research designs, lack attention variation in actors and authorities across policy‐specific issues, unrefined methods data analyses. This article offers new path forward applying...

Learning among actors engaged in environmental governance can be a critical pathway toward institutional change. Learning, however, is often unintentional or idiosyncratic governance. This paper considers how the rules structuring an process enable constrain work of learning. We draw insights from theories learning and Institutional Analysis Development (IAD) framework's rule typology to identify particular types matter examine these help uncover lessons five empirical studies literature....

Performance management and citizen participation are being used by local governments to improve government accountability responsiveness. In some cases, integrating these two trends. One area of in which this trend has not been assessed is special districts. This paper uses data from a study nine districts the state Texas fill void. To assess performance among districts, we interviewed district managers, analyzed minutes governing board meetings, conducted focus groups three regions state....

Research that employs the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework offers a theoretically rich approach for diagnosing assessing public policies. However, complexity of framework, its related theories, can challenge researchers interested in application. This article novel synthesis IAD literature recommendations how scholars use to enhance practical relevance policy design research. In presenting these insights, we focus on three general themes including IAD’s emphasis...

Political mobilization of policy actors into advocacy coalitions is a defining feature subsystems. Nonetheless, knowledge about the particularities across different political systems remains limited. This paper offers insights for comparative analysis by exploring issue shale development in United States, Argentina, and China using media content analysis. Methodologically, it advances study introducing standardized approach measuring coalition attributes countries. Empirically, explores how...

Abstract The purpose of this article is to analyze perceptions and activities policy actors, who are actively involved in or knowledgeable about the politics hydraulic fracturing New York, Colorado, Texas. analysis guided by research questions drawn from Advocacy Coalition Framework that focus on actors’ positions, problem perceptions, political capacity, activities, interactions. In doing so, we examine differences between those actors opposed relative support across three states using data...