Transnational policy entrepreneurs and the cultivation of influence: individuals, organizations and their networks

ABSTRACT

The ‘policy entrepreneur’ concept arises from the Multiple Streams’ theory of agenda setting in Policy Studies. Through conceptual stretching’, the concept is extended to global policy dynamics. Unlike ‘advocacy networks’ and ‘norm entrepreneurs’, the discussion addresses the strategies of ‘insider’ or ‘near-governmental’ non-state actors. The analysis advances the policy entrepreneur concept in three directions. First, the discussion develops the transnational dimensions of this activity through a case study of International Crisis Group. Second, rather than focusing on charismatic individuals, the discussion emphasizes the importance of organizational resources and reputations for policy entrepreneurship and access into international policy communities. Organizations maintain momentum behind policy solutions and pressures for change over the long term when individuals retire or depart for other positions. Third, the discussion outlines four distinct entrepreneur strategies and techniques that both individuals and organizations cultivate and deploy to enhance their power and persuasion in global policy processes and politics.

KEYWORDS:

• Policy entrepreneur
• agenda setting
• global policy
• diplomacy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 693799 as part of the ‘European Leadership in Cultural, Science and Innovation Diplomacy' (EL-CSID) project.

Notes on contributors

Diane Stone

Diane Stone is a Centenary Professor in the Institute of Governance and Policy Analysis at the University of Canberra. She is also a Professor at Warwick University in the Department of Politics and International Studies. She was elected as Vice President of the International Public Policy Association in 2014, and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia in 2012. From 2004 to 2008, she was a European Commission Marie Curie Chair and founding Professor of Public Policy at Central European University (CEU). Working at the World Bank Institute in Washington DC. she was a member of the Secretariat that launched in 1999 the Global Development Network subsequently becoming a member of its Governing Body for three years during its transition to an international organization. Until 2012, she was a member of the Council of the Overseas Development Institute. From 2012 through 2015 she was a Board member of the Think Tank Fund, part of the Open Societies Foundation network.