Explaining Policy Success Using the Multiple Streams Framework: Political Success Despite Programmatic Failure of the Solar Energy Policy in Gujarat, India

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Abstract

Although many scholars have studied policy success and failure, the relationship of these phenomena to the policy process—essential for an explanatory or anticipatory analysis—remains unclear. I address this gap by linking the policy success heuristic with the multiple streams framework (MSF) and developing hypotheses to explain outcomes. I apply this conceptualization to the case of the solar energy policy in Gujarat, India by combining a qualitative policy assessment with a process trace of policy making. The findings show that the conflicted process success and the programmatic failure resulted largely from a top-down push for a policy without a problem. This push, nevertheless, led to political success that was sustained by recoupling problems and politics through agenda denial, blame avoidance, and credit claiming. I conclude with implications for the research on policy evaluation, the MSF, and policy studies, as well as the governance of a sustainable energy transition. Related Articles: Huda, Juhi. 2020. “Sources of Evidence for Risks and Benefits in Agricultural Biotechnology Policy in India: Exploring Links to Setting and Plot in Policy Narratives.” Politics & Policy 49 (1): 205-247. https://doi.org.10.1111/polp.12391. Peterson, Holly L., Mark K. McBeth, and Michael D. Jones. 2020. “Policy Process Theory for Rural Studies: Navigating Context and Generalization in Rural Policy.” Politics & Policy 48 (4): 576-617. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12366. Rawat, Pragati, and John Charles Morris. 2016. “Kingdon's ‘Streams’ Model at Thirty: Still Relevant in the 21st Century? Politics & Policy 44 (4): 608-638. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12168.

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APA

Goyal, N. (2021). Explaining Policy Success Using the Multiple Streams Framework: Political Success Despite Programmatic Failure of the Solar Energy Policy in Gujarat, India. Politics and Policy, 49(5), 1021–1060. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12426

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