Institutions and the Policy Process 2.0: Implications of the IAD Framework

Abstract

Much is known in the literature about institutions and the policy process. However, the literature generally tend to be implicit and Western centric and has not systematically studied the implications of institutional theory. In this chapter, we explore several implications of institutional theory for the policy process literature using the Institutional Analysis and Development Framework. We focus in particular on agenda setting, policy sub- systems, politics and policy, instrument choice, implementation, learning and isomorphism, the role of language and ideas and the importance of developing a set of diagnostic tools. Our aim is to start a conversation - which we refer to as policy process 2.0 - between scholars of institutions and policy studies. We argue that systematically linking institutional theory with the policy studies literature – using the IAD Framework – helps open up a promising research agenda.