ECPR General Conference, Bordeaux, September 4-7 2013
Political sociology section
Panel 5: Coordination of Policy Sectors
Chaired by Philipp Trein, Université de Lausanne
Policy analysts have used the concept of policy sectors to distinguish actor constellations and functional logics of certain policy problems. Most of the policy analyses focus on the functional logics, structures, ideas, actors and conflicts inside a policy sector, whereas the relations in between such fields remain poorly analyzed. However, the vertical relations of policy sectors are very important, because many political problems require the coordination of actors from different fields, such as in cases of imminent catastrophes, or, for the solution of complex societal problems. This panel wants to understand how policy sectors or sub-sectors relate to each other. Possible examples are the relation of fiscal and monetary policy, foreign and defense policy or preventive health and health care policies. Certainly, other examples are possible.
Therefore, this panel invites papers that focus on the coordination of policy sectors and policy sub-sectors. Theoretical contributions are welcome, but also empirical analyses. Successful papers address, for instance, questions as the following: Where do policy sectors touch and when do conflicts among sectors emerge? Which forms of coordination between policy sectors are possible and which factors have a positive or negative impact on coordination? In which country, or group of countries, is a coordination of policy fields or sectors more likely?
This panel contributes to the debate on field concepts in political analysis, by sharpening our understanding of sectoral and sub-sectoral relations in politics and to a better understanding of the coordination patterns in public policy.
Submit proposals here
Deadline February 1st