European Policy Analysis
link concepts in the form of expectations , propositions , or observable implications , and establish causal mechanisms that explain how concepts interrelate ( Jenkins-Smith et al . 2014 ; Weible and Nohrstedt 2012 ). Theoretical emphases include advocacy coalitions , policyoriented learning , and policy change . political behavior is conditioned by subsystem institutions and events outside the control of subsystem participants . The most important institutional factors that constrain subsystem actors are the openness of the political system and norms of consensus , which affect the level of inclusiveness of coalitions , exchange of information across coalition boundaries ,
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Figure 1 . Flow Diagram of the Advocacy Coalition Framework ; Source : Adapted from Sabatier and Weible ( 2007 , 202 ).
Advocacy coalitions are defined as groups of actors sharing policy core beliefs and coordinating their behavior in a nontrivial manner . Advocacy coalitions emerge because actors vary in their belief systems ( e . g ., normative values regarding a particular policy topic ) and seek to form alliances to translate their beliefs into actual policies before actors with different belief systems can do the same . The formation and stability of advocacy coalitions over time and their and access to policy venues ( Sabatier and Weible , 2007 ). Events are likely to affect coalition behavior , particularly by providing opportunities for exploitation of new resources ( including mobilization of new coalition members ) and strategy in terms of venue exploitation .
• Policy-oriented learning is defined as “ enduring alterations of thought or behavioral intentions that result from experience and which are concerned with the attainment or revision of the precepts
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