Network Analysis Methodology of Policy Actors Identification and Power Evaluation (The Case of the Unified State Exam Introduction in Russia)

Abstract

In this paper, we presented a methodology for identifying policy actors for policy fields and evaluate their power. Presented methodology is based on text parsing and mining, and producing networks with analysis of the text processing results. We used the example of the Russian Unified State Exam, as the real case of policy formulation and implementation, to test the proposed methodology. The methodology was shown to have great potential for verifying the theories of policy studies and for a broader application in the areas where analysis of policy actors and their power, influence, and impact is needed.