Policy Debates and Discourse Network Analysis: A Research Agenda

Leifeld, Philip

doi:10.17645/pag.v8i2.3249

Cited by 53 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Whereas most empirical studies on the positions of political groups in the EP analyse voting behaviour, there is an emerging research strand that recognizes the potential of analysing parliamentary speeches (Proksch and Slapin 2009;Kaufmann 2020;Vogeler et al 2021). The study on hand ties in with these studies and stands out by applying techniques of discourse network analysis to parliamentary debates (Leifeld 2020). This methodological approach is based on the assumption that competing policy preferences are expressed in public debates.…”

Section: K 2 Partisan Politics In Agricultural Policy In the European Parliamentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The integration of environmental objectives in the common agricultural policy—partisan politics in the European Parliament

Vogeler

2021

Z Vgl Polit Wiss

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This study examines the policy preferences of political groups in the 8th European Parliament regarding the design of agricultural policy and the integration of environmental goals therein. Due to the high degree of Europeanization of the Common Agricultural Policy, the analysis of party positions at the EU level is particularly interesting. To what extent are the positions of political groups changing against the background of the increasing public awareness for environmental and animal welfare issues in agricultural policy? By means of a discourse network analysis of the plenary debates on selected policy proposals during the 8th term of the European Parliament, the positions of the political groups in agricultural policymaking are explored. The comparative analysis clearly reveals differences in problem perceptions and preferred policy solutions between the different political groups. Substantive differences are apparent between the EPP on the one side and the Greens/EFA and the GUE/NGL on the other side. EPP members still mostly represent traditional agricultural goals such as food security and income support for farmers, whereas the Greens/EFA and the GUE/NGL deputies promote a change towards a more environmentally and animal welfare friendly agricultural policy. At the same time, the analysis reveals a broad consensus across political groups regarding the general need to increasingly integrate sustainability concerns in the design of the future Common Agricultural Policy.

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Section: K 2 Partisan Politics In Agricultural Policy In the European Parliamentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The integration of environmental objectives in the common agricultural policy—partisan politics in the European Parliament

Vogeler

2021

Z Vgl Polit Wiss

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“…In general, the public debate represents one venue political actors use to try to influence policymaking (Leifeld, 2013 , 2020 ). Research has identified several ways in which participation in public debates may be influential: First, research on agenda-setting shows that emphasizing certain problem perceptions or policy solutions increases a topic’s likelihood to be discussed in legislative institutions (Baumgartner & Jones, 2009 ; Soroka & Wlezien, 2009 ; Tosun & Scherer, 2020 ; Tosun & Varone, 2020 ).…”

Section: Theoretical Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Building on earlier suggestions (Leifeld, 2017 ; Shanahan et al, 2013 ; Weible et al, 2016 ), this study shows that discourse network analysis is a useful method to analyze coalition formation within a policy subsystem, identify members of clearly separable coalitions and investigate whether coalitions differ in their level of activity in the public debate and their use of narrative strategies. Discourse network analysis has been developed explicitly to study coalition formation based on congruent policy beliefs (Leifeld, 2016 ) and has been applied in the study of various policy subsystems (Leifeld, 2013 , 2020 ; Rinscheid, 2020 ; Tobin et al, 2018 ; Tosun & Schaub, 2017 ). Investigating discourse networks and the relationships between actors and narrative elements enables an enhanced analysis of the relational dimension inherent in the NPF.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public contestation over agricultural pollution: a discourse network analysis on narrative strategies in the policy process

Schaub

2021

Policy Sci

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The overuse of fertilizers in agriculture and their entry into freshwater has many negative impacts on biodiversity and poses problems for drinking water resources in Germany. In response to exceeding levels of nitrate concentrations in groundwater in parts of the country, an intense public dispute evolved and a significant policy change in fertilizer regulation occurred in 2020. Based on the German case of agricultural water pollution, this study demonstrates in an innovative way how discourse network analysis is a fruitful method for the integrated study of actor coalitions and their use of narrative strategies in public debate. Theoretically, the study draws on the narrative policy framework (NPF) to explain how actor coalitions use narrative strategies to attempt to influence policymaking on water pollution by agricultural activities. The empirical analysis builds on newspaper articles and press releases disseminated between 2010 and 2020. The results demonstrate how two opposing actor coalitions with congruent policy beliefs formed in the struggle over fertilizer regulation. These not only diverged in their policy beliefs but also differed in their use of narrative strategies to try to expand or contain the policy issue. More precisely, the coalitions adapted their narratives over time in response to changes in the likelihood to win or lose. Furthermore, the results suggest the coalition in favor of stricter fertilizer regulation was more sophisticated in its effort to mobilize specific target groups. Overall, the article provides a valuable contribution to the literature on the NPF by combining research on coalition formation and policy narratives.

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“…We applied a discourse network analysis [43][44][45] to test the plausibility of our theoretical expectations formulated in the previous section. Due to the small-N research design, we conduct a plausibility probe, which may then guide future theory development [49].…”

Section: Which Coalition Structures Make Policy Change More Likely?mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The present contribution aims to better understand policy formation in this policy field by investigating the research question whether the public debate had an impact on the policy response to pharmaceutical contaminants in Germany. Empirical research in political science has repeatedly shown that the public debate can influence policy-making processes in democratic systems [20,42,45,81,88,89]. The public debate represents a space where societal and political issues are publicly debated [70].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transition towards sustainable pharmacy? The influence of public debates on policy responses to pharmaceutical contaminants in water

Schaub

Braunbeck

2020

Environ Sci Eur

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Background Despite clear-cut scientific evidence for pharmaceutical contaminants causing adverse effects in aquatic life, the regulatory response in Germany has been weak. In principle, there are different policy approaches to address pharmaceutical contaminants: German water protection policies mostly follows a control approach, complemented by end-of-pipe solutions in some German states. The approach leaves the activities of key target groups, such as the pharmaceutical industry, largely unaffected. A stakeholder consultation initiated in 2016 by the German Federal Ministry of the Environment did not lead to significant changes in regulation. Empirical research in political science has shown that analysing the public debate can be helpful in explaining policy responses and, in particular, policy change. This study follows this approach and investigates whether the German policy response to pharmaceutical contaminants can be explained by characteristics of the public debate on the issue. Results A discourse network analysis based on newspaper reporting in Germany was conducted between 2013 and 2017 to investigate the public debate on pharmaceutical contaminants. German newspapers actually paid considerable attention to the issue. In fact, the debate was not controversial, and participating organisations expressed similar views with regard to the risk of the contaminants, the causes of contamination and the approaches to be taken to mitigate the release of contaminants to the environment. The main narrative in the debate was supportive to the current policy approach applied in Germany. There were no concerted efforts by organisations such as environmental organisations or ecological parties to mobilise for an alternative policy approach. Conclusions The low level of polarisation in the policy subsystem and the absence of a strong narrative mobilising a major policy change may explain the persistence of the policy approach to pharmaceutical contaminants applied in Germany. A significant change to the current approach in the near future seems unlikely. Nevertheless, literature in political science shows that a polarised public debate and a strong pro-change actor coalition often preceded policy change. Actors with an interest in stricter regulation might want to reconsider their mobilisation strategies.

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Policy Debates and Discourse Network Analysis: A Research Agenda

Cited by 53 publications

References 19 publications

The integration of environmental objectives in the common agricultural policy—partisan politics in the European Parliament

The integration of environmental objectives in the common agricultural policy—partisan politics in the European Parliament

Public contestation over agricultural pollution: a discourse network analysis on narrative strategies in the policy process

Transition towards sustainable pharmacy? The influence of public debates on policy responses to pharmaceutical contaminants in water

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