How can political conflict in adversarial policy networks promote their coordination?
How can political conflict in adversarial policy networks promote their coordination?
Policy actors often engage in contentious debates on many social issues, including climate change, gun control, and healthcare reform. These conflicts involving government agencies, private companies, and interest groups can lead to gridlock or policy failure. Understanding these dynamics is essential for crafting effective strategies that enhance coordination.
In a recent article in Policy & Politics (Political Science Category, JCI 5.8%), Jeongyoon Lee (Associate Professor, University of Kentucky) and David Lee (Associate Professor, Ewha Womans University) tackle the political competition surrounding local fracking policies in New York. Diverse stakeholders, including landowners, media representatives, oil and gas associations, and environmental groups, are actively debating the legality of fracking. They explore whether these conflicts arise from competition over scarce resources, similar positions regarding resource-sharing, differing policy beliefs, or a combination of these factors.
They conduct network analyses using network survey data and stakeholder interviews. The study reveals that policy rivals often possess fundamentally opposing beliefs about fracking and compete for limited resources. Conversely, stakeholders engaged in information-sharing relationships demonstrate greater collaboration capacity, fostering coordination instead of rivalry.
Their findings provide practical insights into the mechanisms of political competition and present actionable evidence for policymakers seeking to mitigate conflict. Stakeholders can significantly improve communication and cooperation by institutionalizing approaches that respect differing beliefs, creating centralized platforms for idea exchange, and designating neutral facilitators. These findings will inspire policymakers to rethink adversarial processes, reducing competition and effectively preventing policy gridlock or failure.
An extended summary of this article is available on the journal’s blog; the full article can be downloaded here.