Knowing the Future: Theories of Time in Policy Analysis

Abstract

The article gives a comparative and critical overview on theories of time in policy analysis. It is based on two central assumptions: First, the various ways time is conceptualized in policy analysis are closely related to underlying understandings of politics and political action. Theories of time are also always political theories. Debating time is thus not only of analytic value. It also has large implications on how power, rationality, and collectivity are related to each other. Secondly, theories of time as political theories can be highly influential in practice. When they find their way into policymaking, they may realign the time horizons and temporal orders of political action.

Aligning the times: Exploring the convergence of researchers, policy makers and research evidence in higher education policy making

“…The use of evidence is clearly not objective, or as Wesselink et al (2014: 341) note, 'evidence cannot speak; it has to be introduced in some way by the participants as part of their framing of the policy problem'. Crucially, the nature of what evidence is considered feasible for policy must arguably fit how policy makers conceive of time (Strassheim, 2016) and how they work with the 'horizons of expectations' (Koselleck, 1979, cited in Strassheim, 2016 of what can be achieved in terms of evidence in the specific Timeframes of the policy world.…”

“…It is also extremely influential in how evidence is used (Oliver et al., 2014b) both by politicians (e.g. Coffé, 2017) and also in policy construction (Strassheim, 2016). Exploring time in the research-policy nexus can thus provide clearer explanations of evidence-based policy and why policy makers are argued to ‘interact with research too late or, largely ignore research in favour of the quick-fix bright ideas of spin-doctors and advisers’ (Lawton, 2005: 142).…”

“…Here, the emphasis is on meaning making between policy network actors who use and interpret evidence (Pearce et al., 2014) and where the dynamics between those actors are unstable (Ball and Exley, 2010), not least through time. Critically, time and policy are very closely intertwined, and the ways in which time is conceptualised ‘are closely related to underlying understandings of politics and political action’ (Strassheim, 2016: 151). Moreover, how time is viewed is extremely influential to what can be achieved in policy, how quickly, how much time is required to achieve it, whether there is a lack of time, whether a policy is considered timely or whether it is considered to be of a nature that is timeless.…”

“…Moreover, how time is viewed is extremely influential to what can be achieved in policy, how quickly, how much time is required to achieve it, whether there is a lack of time, whether a policy is considered timely or whether it is considered to be of a nature that is timeless. It is clear that ‘theories of time are not only political theories but also a form of political practice’ (Strassheim, 2016: 151).…”

Editorial Introduction to the First Issue of European Policy Analysis (EPA)

“…Robert Hoppe and Hal Colebatch (2016) address the disconnection between the academic study of the policy process and many political practices. Strassheim () gives an overview on theories of time in Policy Analysis. Bornemann () presents the perspective of integrative political strategies.…”