The narrative policy framework and institutions.

This paper re‐evaluates conventional Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) scholarship which has traditionally prioritized the study of specific rules configurations and their role in forming effective institutional arrangements. We suggest that effective institutional governance may actually...

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Published in:Review of Policy Research Vol. 42; no. 5; pp. 1087 - 1109
Main Authors: McGovern, Rachel, Jones, Michael D.
Format: Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Sep2025
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        atl: The narrative policy framework and institutions.
      aug:
        au:
          McGovern, Rachel
          Jones, Michael D.
        affil:
          Department of Political Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Tennessee,, USA
          Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Tennessee,, USA
      su:
        Collective action
        Empirical research
        Eyewitness accounts
        Grammar
        Narratives
      sug:
        subj:
          Collective action
          Empirical research
          Eyewitness accounts
          Grammar
          Narratives
      keyword:
        ADICO
        institutional analysis and development framework
        institutional rules
        institutions
        macro narratives
        narrative policy framework
        policy process
        análisis institucional y marco de desarrollo
        instituciones
        macronarrativas
        marco narrativo de políticas
        Proceso de políticas
        reglas institucionales
        制度
        制度分析与发展框架
        制度声明之五要素(ADICO)
        制度规则
        叙事政策框架
        宏观叙事
        政策过程
        ADICO
        institutional analysis and development framework
        institutional rules
        institutions
        macro narratives
        narrative policy framework
        policy process
        análisis institucional y marco de desarrollo
        instituciones
        macronarrativas
        marco narrativo de políticas
        Proceso de políticas
        reglas institucionales
        制度
        制度分析与发展框架
        制度声明之五要素(ADICO)
        制度规则
        叙事政策框架
        宏观叙事
        政策过程
      ab: This paper re‐evaluates conventional Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) scholarship which has traditionally prioritized the study of specific rules configurations and their role in forming effective institutional arrangements. We suggest that effective institutional governance may actually be more reliant on the narrative foundations and personal cognitive interpretations of these rules than on the explicit rules themselves. By drawing insights from the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF), which delves into the internal cognitive processes of individuals, we seek to enrich the understanding of institutional‐actor‐rule dynamics. We contend that policy actors often rely on narrative heuristics to navigate complex institutional landscapes, underscoring the role of narratives in both understanding institutional structures and instigating collective action. Although institutional scholarship recognizes the centrality of communication, its impact on shaping institutional arrangements and rule formation remains insufficiently explored. This paper advocates for the integration of the NPF and the Institutional Grammar Tools' (IGT) ADICO, identifying potential parallels between the two frameworks. Our preliminary theorization suggests a cyclical relationship between narratives and institutions, with narratives shaping and being shaped by institutional rules and norms. Building upon Narrative Attention Theory, we aim to understand the broader implications of institutional narratives in driving or reinforcing policy stasis. Our paper represents a foundational step toward a comprehensive theoretical framework on the role of narratives in institutions, spotlighting institutional rules and pointing to future research directions. Through the proposed integration of NPF and IGT's ADICO, we hope to provide a more nuanced understanding of narrative dynamics in institutional arrangements and pave the way for empirical exploration of this relationship.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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