Who takes initiative? The rise of education policy networks and the shifting balance of initiative-taking amongst education stakeholders in Israel

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we reveal and describe the context in which education policy networks in Israel have expanded recently, given the evolving interdependent relationships among the actors involved. We draw upon resource dependence theory, which assumes that actors’ power relations within a network depends on their own and others’ perceptions of the dependency relations among the different actors in the network. Policy documents and committee reports were identified and analyzed qualitatively, alongside transcripts of semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted with stakeholders in Israeli education policy. We identified significant changes regarding which stakeholders take initiative for policy-making and implementation processes in Israeli education. We related these changes to the dynamics of resource dependence relationships among actors. In addition, we revealed a new stage in the evolution of educational governance in Israel – a transition from intersectoral collaboration within a top-down policy process defined and led by the Ministry of Education to a situation in which policy networks including non-governmental stakeholders initiate and subsequently lead many education policy processes. At this new stage, certain non-state actors increased their power, presence, and influence over Israeli education policy and can thus shape existing policies by leveraging their perceived control over a range of resources.

KEYWORDS:

• Policy networks
• education
• new governance
• resource dependence theory

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

May Amiel

May Amiel is a PhD candidate in the Department of Sociology And Anthropology in the Jaime and Joan Constantiner School of education at the Tel Aviv University. Her research interests include entrepreneurship education policy, intergovernmental organizations, and education policy networks.

Miri Yemini

Miri Yemini is Associate Professor in Education at Tel Aviv University. Her research addresses processes of internationalisation, global middle class, global citizenship education and involvement of external actors in education. Recent edited book (with Christopher Lubienski and Claire Maxwell) published by Bristol University Press explored how external actors engage with education systems around the world.