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The narrative policy framework and institutions

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  • Rachel McGovern
  • Michael D. Jones

Abstract

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. 本文重新评价了传统的制度分析与发展(IAD)学术,后者一般重点研究特定规则配置及其在形成有效制度安排中的作用。我们认为,有效的制度治理实际上可能更依赖于规则的叙事基础和个人认知解释,而不是明确的规则本身。基于深入研究个人内部认知过程的叙事政策框架(NPF),我们试图加深对“制度‐行动者‐规则”动态的理解。我们论证,政策行动者经常依靠叙事启发法来应对复杂的制度环境,强调叙事在理解制度结构和煽动集体行动方面的作用。尽管制度学术认可传播的中心性,但其对制度安排和规则形成的影响仍未得到充分探讨。本文倡导将NPF与制度语法工具(IGT)的制度声明之五要素(ADICO)进行整合,同时识别这两个框架之间潜在的相似之处。我们的理论表明,叙事与制度之间存在循环关系,即叙事会影响制度规则和规范,也被制度规则和规范所影响。基于Peterson(2018)的叙事注意力理论,我们旨在理解制度叙事在推动或加强政策停滞方面的更广泛影响。我们的论文为关于“叙事在制度中的作用”的综合性理论框架奠定了基础,强调了制度规则并指出了未来的研究方向。通过拟议的NPF与IGT的ADICO整合,我们希望能够对制度安排中的叙事动态提供更细微的理解,并为该关系的实证探索铺平道路。 Este artículo reevalúa la erudición convencional de Análisis y Desarrollo Institucional (IAD) que tradicionalmente ha priorizado el estudio de configuraciones de reglas específicas y su papel en la formación de acuerdos institucionales efectivos. Sugerimos que la gobernanza institucional eficaz puede en realidad depender más de los fundamentos narrativos y de las interpretaciones cognitivas personales de las reglas que de las reglas explícitas mismas. Al extraer conocimientos del Marco de Políticas Narrativas (NPF), que profundiza en los procesos cognitivos internos de los individuos, buscamos enriquecer la comprensión de la dinámica institucional‐actor‐regla. Sostenemos que los actores políticos a menudo se basan en heurísticas narrativas para navegar por paisajes institucionales complejos, subrayando el papel de las narrativas tanto en la comprensión de las estructuras institucionales como en la instigación de la acción colectiva. Aunque los estudios institucionales reconocen la centralidad de la comunicación, su impacto en la configuración de los acuerdos institucionales y la formación de reglas aún no se ha explorado lo suficiente. Este artículo aboga por la integración del NPF y las Herramientas Gramaticales Institucionales (IGT) ADICO, identificando posibles paralelos entre los dos marcos. Nuestra teorización sugiere una relación cíclica entre narrativas e instituciones, en la que las narrativas moldean y son moldeadas por reglas y normas institucionales. Basándonos en la teoría de la atención narrativa de Peterson (2018), nuestro objetivo es comprender las implicaciones más amplias de las narrativas institucionales a la hora de impulsar o reforzar la estasis política. Nuestro artículo representa un paso fundamental hacia un marco teórico integral sobre el papel de las narrativas en las instituciones, destacando las reglas institucionales y señalando futuras direcciones de investigación. A través de la integración propuesta de NPF y ADICO de IGT, esperamos brindar una comprensión más matizada de la dinámica narrativa en los acuerdos institucionales y allanar el camino para la exploración empírica de esta relación.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachel McGovern & Michael D. Jones, 2025. "The narrative policy framework and institutions," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 42(5), pages 1087-1108, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:revpol:v:42:y:2025:i:5:p:1087-1108
    DOI: 10.1111/ropr.12616
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