Translating ideas into action: Brazilian studies of the role of the policy entrepreneur in the public policy process. Issue 4 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brasil, Felipe Gonçalves; Capella, Ana Cláudia Niedhardt
• Is Part Of: Policy & society. Volume 36:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 504
• Page End: 522
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: Policy entrepreneur -- policy process -- Brazilian policy studies; Policy sciences -- Periodicals; Social policy -- Periodicals; Economic policy -- Periodicals; International relations -- Periodicals; Sciences de la politique -- Périodiques; Politique sociale -- Périodiques; Politique économique -- Périodiques; Relations internationales -- Périodiques; Australia -- Politics and government -- 1945- -- Periodicals; Australia -- Economic conditions -- 1945- -- Periodicals; Pacific Area -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Pacific Area -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Australie -- Politique et gouvernement -- 1945- -- Périodiques; Australie -- Conditions économiques -- 1945- -- Périodiques; Pacifique, Région du -- Politique et gouvernement -- Périodiques; Pacifique, Région du -- Conditions économiques -- Périodiques; 320.605
• DOI: 10.1080/14494035.2017.1374691
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1449-4035

Abstract

Abstract: Over the past decades, research on policy formulation, especially research on agenda-setting, has demonstrated that the actions of individuals (or groups) labelled 'policy entrepreneurs' constitute a central aspect of the public policy process. Agenda-setting theoretical models (John Kingdon's multiple streams model and Baumgartner and Jones's punctuated equilibrium theory) view those actors from different perspectives, stressing different features of their role in the policy process. Both models consider the policy entrepreneur an essential actor in their explanations of policy maintenance or change. In Brazil, although the study of public policy has experienced periods of strong expansion during the past decades, there is still a lack of detailed data on the application of such models and the role of policy entrepreneurs in such analyses. This paper aims to present and discuss the centrality of policy entrepreneurs in agenda-setting models by analysing this important actor and the limits and contributions of this conceptualization for understanding the policy process. In addition, this research analyses the central role of the policy entrepreneur and presents empirical findings of Brazilian policy studies, thus highlighting implications regarding the concept for these three theoretical approaches.