Theories of the policy process / edited by Paul A. Sabatier.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

pt. 1. Introduction. The need for better theories / Paul A. Sabatier ; The stages approach to the policy process: what has it done? where is it going? / Peter deLeon -- pt. 2. Alternative views of the role of rationality in the policy process. Institutional rational choice: an assessment of the institutional analysis and development framework / Elinor Ostrom ; Ambiguity, time, and multiple streams / Nikolaos Zahariadis -- pt. 3. Frameworks focusing on policy change over fairly long periods. Punctuated-equilibrium theory: explaining stability and change in American policymaking / James L. True, Bryan D. Jones, and Frank R. Baumgartner ; The advocacy coalition framework: an assessment / Paul A. Sabatier and Hank C. Jenkins-Smith -- pt. 4. Frameworks comparing policies across a large number of political systems. Innovation and diffusion models in policy research / Frances Stokes Berry and William D. Berry ; The policy process and large-N comparative studies / William Blomquist -- pt. 5. Conclusions. A comparison of frameworks, theories, and models of policy processes / Edella Schlager ; Fostering the development of policy theory / Paul A. Sabatier.