Policy Theory as Argumentation

This article presents a method to reconstruct policy theories as argumentations, illustrated by road safety policies in the Netherlands. A policy theory is defined as an actor's integrated set of assumptions with regard to a policy. To date, the literature on policy theories has not applied reconstruction methods so that the assumptions of an actor were represented as a whole. Goal and decision trees, path diagrams, and process models have, up to now, not represented all types of policy assumptions (final, causal, normative, and descriptive policy assumptions) within one integrated theory. If a policy theory is viewed as an argumentation for policy contents, a method is provided whereby all assumptions can be integrated into an argumentation. The method links the assumptions to elements of policy contents in such a way that the assumptions are premises in a policy actor's reasoning that provide the basis for the policy goals chosen, for the instruments for achieving those goals, and for the proposed timing.