The idea of policy coherence: closing or widening the implementation gap of sustainability objectives?

Abstract

Achieving policy coherence between conflicting objectives of sustainable development has long been on the agendas of policymakers, practitioners and researchers alike. Turning the ideational analysis of policy studies to the focus of policy coherence, and particularly coherence in implementation of potentially conflicting sustainability goals, this paper addresses a conceptual and an empirical research gap. This study departs from the empirical example of domestic aviation in Sweden, a topic which is characterized by diverging ideas of sustainability. The polarized idea of sustainability provides a particularly fruitful base to address how ideas of policy coherence impact process and outcomes; by applying a simplified framework of analysis of observed ideational and implementation incoherence. The study finds that formulated coherence on a national level does contribute to perceived clarity of responsibility and cooperation, but that this legitimizes business as usual around ideas of growth and development. On the other hand, ideas regarding incoherence are closely linked to perceptions of justice and fairness in policy processes and ultimately an understanding of outcomes as illegitimate and unfit for rural realities; contributing to our understanding that despite a shared idea of the need for sustainable development certain sustainability policies may still face backlash.