The Interaction of Policy Narratives, Moral Politics, and Criminal Justice Policy Beliefs

Abstract

Criminal justice reform is one of the many contentious issues we face in an increasingly polarized political climate. Differing perceptions of issues like these may be explained by underlying belief systems and expressed through narratives. This study employs the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) by Moral Politics Theory as the theoretical underpinning for policy narratives. Moral Politics Theory states that policy beliefs are shaped by either a Strict Father (individual responsibility) or Nurturant Parent (societal responsibility) worldview. Visitors to Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site read one criminal justice narrative from each worldview and selected which was more persuasive. Worldview and policy beliefs predicted which narrative was found persuasive; however, the analysis revealed there may be bilateral support for a combination of individual and societal responsibilities. Finally, this study supports and expands the NPF to a new context and population. Related Articles Ertas, Nevbahar. 2015. “Policy Narratives and Public Opinion Concerning Charter Schools.” Politics & Policy 43 (3): 426‐451. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12120 McBeth, Mark K., Donna L. Lybecker, and Kacee Garner. 2010. “The Story of Good Citizenship: Framing Public Policy in the Context of Duty‐Based versus Engaged Citizenship.” Politics & Policy 38 (1): 1‐23. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2009.00226.x Shanahan, Elizabeth A., Mark K. McBeth, and Paul L. Hathaway. 2011. “Narrative Policy Framework: The Power of Policy Narratives in Influencing Public Opinion.” Politics & Policy 39 (3): 373‐400. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00295.x

Note from the Editor

“…通过检验和发展叙事政策框架(NPF)， Chalaya、Schlaufer和Uldanov(2024)敏锐地论证，将政策目标群体描绘成英雄的叙事最能有效地产生政策支持。他们对“围绕一家俄罗斯国家公园新营火法规的舆论”进行了探讨，提出了“受众作为英雄”的概念。此文与越来越多已发表的P&P文章相呼应，为西方情境和非西方情境下的NPF理论及政策实践作出了坚实的贡献(see e.g., Angervil, 2024; Brekken & Fenley, 2021; Chang & Koebele, 2020; Crow et al., 2017; Ertas, 2015; Knackmuhs et al., 2020; O'Donovan, 2018; Shanahan et al., 2011; Smith‐Walter et al., 2016)。…”

“…Testing and building upon the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF), Chalaya and others (2024) argue perceptively that narratives portraying a policy's target group as a hero are most effective in generating support for a policy. Their discussion of the public opinion surrounding new campfire regulations in a Russian national park adds the concept of "audience-as-hero" and joins a growing group of exemplary past P&P articles that contribute solidly to NPF theory and policy practice in both Western and non-Western contexts (see, e.g., Angervil, 2024;Brekken & Fenley, 2021;Chang & Koebele, 2020;Crow et al, 2017;Ertas, 2015;Knackmuhs et al, 2020;O'Donovan, 2018;Shanahan et al, 2011;Smith-Walter et al, 2016).…”

“…进行了探讨 ，提出了"受众作为英雄"的概念。此文与越来越多已发表的P&P文章相呼 应，为西方情境和非西方情境下的NPF理论及政策实践作出了坚实的贡献(see e.g.,Angervil, 2024;Brekken & Fenley, 2021;Chang & Koebele, 2020;Crow et al, 2017;Ertas, 2015;Knackmuhs et al, 2020;O'Donovan, 2018;Shanahan et al, 2011;Smith-Walter et al, 2016)。 …”

Narrative policy framework at the macro level—cultural theory-based beliefs, science-based narrative strategies, and their uptake in the Canadian policy process for genetically modified salmon

“…Our study also innovates by applying the NPF at the macro-level (McBeth et al, 2014a, 2014b), as we investigate how narratives at the institutional scale shape policy outcomes (Crow et al, 2017; Jones et al, 2014) (Figure 1, Row 4). According to Knackmuhs et al (2020), as of 2020, “only one macro-level study has been conducted” (p. 293)—referencing Knox (2013). Knox (2013) investigated the historical narratives surrounding the Everglades restoration and their influence on policy formation at the societal level, although they did not use an explicit NPF approach.…”

Narasi Media Dalam Proses Kebijakan Pengendalian Kebakaran Hutan Dan Lahan Di Kabupaten Bengkalis

“…Faktor-faktor yang meningkatkanakerentanan kebakaran hutan dan lahan adalah, populasi lokal yang tinggi, akses jalan, kebijakan pemerintahayang mengizinkan penggunaan hutanasebagai lahan P-ISSN 1693-3516 | E-ISSN 2528-7575 222 pertanian, kurangnya penegakanaperlindungan, dan musim kemarau yang mendukung pembakaranayang ekstensif (Budiningsih, 2017). Kebakaran hutanadan lahan mengarahkan kelompok kepentingan, pemimpin pemerintah, pembuat kebijakan, media berita, atau anggota masyarakatauntuk mengidentifikasi masalah yang terjadi, atau untuk memberikan perhatian yang lebih besar pada masalah yang menuntut untuk dicarikan solusi setelah kegagalan dari kebijakan yang sudah ada (Knackmuhs, Farmer, & Knapp, 2020). Narasi yang dibentuk pada media dapat meningkatkan perhatian pada masalah kebijakan, para aktor kebijakan yang menginginkan perubahan dapat menggunakannya sebagai kesempatan untuk secara aktif memobilisasi dalam mendukung kebijakan baru yang menguntungkan (Crow et al, 2017).…”