A River Runs Through It: A Multiple Streams Meta‐Review

Abstract

This study uses content analysis of recent Multiple Streams Approach (MSA) research to determine the scope of MSA applications, examining the consistency, and coherence with which concepts of MSA are applied. Our analysis examines peer‐reviewed articles testing MSA concepts available in English published from 2000 through 2013 (N = 311). Among other findings, we observe that MSA is applied to study 65 different countries, at multiple levels of governance, across 22 different policy areas, and by researchers spanning the globe. Our findings suggest that while MSA is prolific, consistency across applications—in terms of operationalization of MSA core concepts—is needed to facilitate theoretical development of the approach.

Fostering Sustainability Transitions by Designing for the Convergence of Policy Windows and Transition Arenas

“…The policy stream of the MSA has five subcomponents that describe the "survivability" of an idea: value acceptability, technical feasibility, resource adequacy, policy communities, and network integration [4]. In the CCFPT case, proposed alternatives to trains gained little traction, aligning with the value acceptability and technical feasibility subcomponents.…”

“…Jones et al's meta-analysis [4] of the MSA details a synthetic perspective on the approach. The following uses that paper as a framework to explain how the CCFPT corresponded to the MSA, and breaks down the problem, policy, and politics streams, as well as policy entrepreneurs and windows.…”

“…Policy entrepreneurs are the "frontrunners" of the MSA, and provide "the necessary dose of agency required to couple the streams and shape policy outputs" [4] (p. 16). Successful entrepreneurs rely on resources, access, and strategies.…”

“…Transition arenas [1][2][3] that do not converge with policy windows [4,5] have largely failed to achieve their stated goals, i.e., "the aspired large scale systemic changes" [2] (p. 63). A policy window occurs when the three streams of Kingdon's multiple streams approach (MSA) [4] flow together.…”

“…A policy window occurs when the three streams of Kingdon's multiple streams approach (MSA) [4] flow together. Those streams are (1) problems perceived by political actors, (2) policies acceptable in the current discourse and implementable given available resources, and (3) politics aligning the interests of the public or powerful actors with a problem and policy.…”