The policy integration game? Congruence of outputs and implementation in policy integration

Abstract

Researchers agree on the importance of policy integration in the analysis of responses to complex problems, yet they often use this concept to indicate integrated policy programmes (IPPs) as opposed to policy integration in practice (as performed by actors). Describing how IPPs are reshaped, while they are being implemented opens new research venues in the study of the policy integration process and its effects. This article theorises the ‘(in)congruent implementation' of IPPs and illustrates its theoretical contribution with the case study of the local implementation of the national ‘Security Decree' in the Italian cities of Bologna and Pesaro. The paper makes a theoretical contribution to the study of the political aspects of policy integration. In particular, it suggests that three factors—the misalignment of state and local policy frames, the incommensurability of different subsystems’ interests, and local politicians’ risk avoidance strategies—might be led to the process of reframing national integrative intentions from the bottom up.