The diffusion of environmental policy innovations: cornerstones of an analytical framework

Abstract

Comparative policy analysis increasingly faces the challenge of incorporating external forces on national policy developments into its analytical framework. Scholars of international relations have recognized that the behaviour of states -in terms of policy outputs -converges even in the absence of binding international agreements. These two branches of research can be bridged by the concept of policy diffusion. Diffusion analysis asks for those conditions that favour or hinder the spread of policy innovations within the international system. However, the scientific community struggles with different meanings and notions of the term policy diffusion. Thus, the aim of this paper is to offer a general conceptual framework for the study of diffusion processes within the international system. Understanding the process of policy diffusion requires an analysis of the complex interplay between transnational and international forces, national factors and the characteristics of policy innovations. By providing a conceptual framework this paper hopes not only to contribute to the theoretical debate but also to give guidance for empirical research.

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Policy adoption in dynamic international environments: Evidence from national AIDS programs

“…The study of policy innovation and diffusion in the social sciences has a largely focused on the US (Gray, 1973;Berry and Berry, 1990, 1994, 1999, though recent scholarship has shed light on cross-national policy diffusion (Tews and Busch, 2002;Tews, 2005). Two broad categories of policy adoption determinants have been suggested in this literature: internal and external.…”

Wind power policy options in finland – analysis of energy policy actors' views

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