Expanding the horizon of policy learning

Abstract

Policy learning is an established conceptual and analytical framework to study the policy process. Its progress as a research agenda hinges on solid micro-foundations, its integration with other policy process theories, the consideration of both positive and negative cases (of learning and change) from diverse continents and countries, and the clarification of the causal pathways connecting individual learning to decisions and change. We sketch these problematic areas, showing where policy learning research has encountered problems, and illustrate how the articles of this special issue contribute to their solution.