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Administrative Traditions and Policy Change: When Policy Paradigms Matter. The Case of Italian Administrative Reform During the 1990s

Administrative Traditions and Policy Change: When Policy Paradigms Matter. The Case of Italian... In recent years a growing number of scholars have developed cognitive and ideational theoretical frameworks for the analysis of policy‐making processes: their underlying belief is that ideas (conceived as beliefs, causal theories and paradigms) really do matter. The concept of policy paradigm has been particularly useful in studying both the contents and dynamics of policy change. The present paper takes this concept, partially reformulates Hall's definition in terms of the distinction between the hegemonic and dominant paradigm, and then uses it to come to terms with the contents and dynamics of the Italian administrative reforms implemented during the 1990s. Mixing the conceptual lenses offered by the ideational and cultural path taken in the field of public policy and by historical neo‐institutionalism, this article attempts to explain the Italian trajectory, and to underline how normative and cognitive elements represent an important influence on the ‘design’ and ‘strategy’ of policy change. Our analysis of the consistency of the reformers’ documents and policy strategy shows that, despite their claims, the contents and strategy of reform do not represent a paradigmatic about‐turn, but constitute an evolutionary adaptation to external pressures imposed by the hegemonic administrative paradigm. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Public Administration Wiley

Administrative Traditions and Policy Change: When Policy Paradigms Matter. The Case of Italian Administrative Reform During the 1990s

Capano, Giliberto
Public Administration , Volume 81 (4) – Jan 1, 2003
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References (44)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2003 Wiley Subscription Services
ISSN
0033-3298
eISSN
1467-9299
DOI
10.1111/j.0033-3298.2003.00371.x
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

In recent years a growing number of scholars have developed cognitive and ideational theoretical frameworks for the analysis of policy‐making processes: their underlying belief is that ideas (conceived as beliefs, causal theories and paradigms) really do matter. The concept of policy paradigm has been particularly useful in studying both the contents and dynamics of policy change. The present paper takes this concept, partially reformulates Hall's definition in terms of the distinction between the hegemonic and dominant paradigm, and then uses it to come to terms with the contents and dynamics of the Italian administrative reforms implemented during the 1990s. Mixing the conceptual lenses offered by the ideational and cultural path taken in the field of public policy and by historical neo‐institutionalism, this article attempts to explain the Italian trajectory, and to underline how normative and cognitive elements represent an important influence on the ‘design’ and ‘strategy’ of policy change. Our analysis of the consistency of the reformers’ documents and policy strategy shows that, despite their claims, the contents and strategy of reform do not represent a paradigmatic about‐turn, but constitute an evolutionary adaptation to external pressures imposed by the hegemonic administrative paradigm.

Journal

Public Administration – Wiley

Published: Jan 1, 2003

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