Policy Process Theory for Rural Studies: Navigating Context and Generalization in Rural Policy

Abstract

Rural studies and policy process literature are ripe for integration due to their interdisciplinary approaches, empirical‐foci, and importance of values, norms, and heuristics. Policy process theory often ignores the important context‐rich variation within the rural and urban distinction, yet offers qualities rural scholars may find useful, like generalizability. This integration would improve both literature by facilitating empirical inquiry. Process theory “lenses” offer internal consistency, a shared research agenda, and applicability in many settings. These qualities encourage sharing and comparing of diverse research findings, thereby advancing common understanding and exploration of the policy process. In illustration of these ideas, this article reviews five policy process frameworks, the Institutional Development and Analysis framework, the Advocacy Coalition Framework, the Social Construction Framework, the Narrative Policy Framework, and the Multiple Streams Approach, extant rural policy process studies, and provides examples of how the literature may be integrated to explore specific research areas and questions. Related Articles Crow, Deserai A., Lydia A. Lawhon, John Berggren, Juhi Huda, Elizabeth Koebele, and Adrianne Kroepsch. 2017. “A Narrative Policy Framework Analysis of Wildfire Policy Discussions in two Colorado Communities.” Politics & Policy 45 (4): 626‐656. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12207 Shortall, Sally, and Margaret Alston. 2016. “To Rural Proof or not to Rural Proof: A Comparative Analysis.” Politics & Policy 44 (1): 35‐55. https://doi-org.libproxy.usouthal.edu/10.1111/polp.12144 Smith‐Walter, Aaron, Holly L. Peterson, Michael D. Jones, and Ashley Nicole Reynolds Marshall. 2016. “Gun Stories: How Evidence Shapes Firearm Policy in the United States.” Politics & Policy 44 (6): 1053‐1088. https://doi-org.libproxy.usouthal.edu/10.1111/polp.12187

Narrative Policy Framework: The Role of Media Narratives on Alcohol Investment Policy in Indonesia

“…The Alcohol Investment Policy in Indonesia has received significant attention from every community, NGOs, and NGO through the public narrative messages conveyed. Policy narratives can be formed through public productivity in addressing issues and discussing policy-related issues (Peterson et al, 2020). The public's response to government policies related to alcohol investment has more attention on media and social media.…”

“…(Blair & McCormack, 2016) Non-news articles (e.g., editorials, comments) are removed and replaced with other randomly selected articles. One of two coders coded the document using a similar codebook (Peterson et al, 2020). The stages of building a research question (NPF), identifying the research locus, the level of analysis distinguished from the unit of analysis, specifying the research model, coding visual narrative data, accessing narrative data, analyzing narrative data (Sioen et al, 2018).…”