Interpretive Approaches to Policy Studies: Developments, Challenges and Ways Forward

2-4 September 2020, held virtually

The first ever virtual Conference on Interpretive Approaches to Policy Studies was held with an overarching goal to advance the unity and diversity of interpretive approaches to policy studies. Co-organised by Koen Bartels, Kathrin Braun, Selen Ercan, Anna Durnová, Tamara Metze and Hendrik Wagenaar, this three-day event brought together over 100 interpretive policy analysts to take stock of the recent development of their field, celebrate its achievements, examine its challenges, and propose ways of moving forward. 

The Conference comprised a variety of Panels and Papers showcasing cutting-edge research on key strands and approaches in the field, including:

• advancing and illustrating a particular method or conceptualization;
• interpretive analysis of pressing policy issues;
• cross-fertilization between different interpretive approaches; and/or
• evaluating key advances and ambitions of the field.

About the Standing Group

The Standing Group on Theoretical Perspectives in Policy Analysis explores systematic, empirically grounded critical, interpretive and deliberative approaches to policy analysis. Members of this Standing Group celebrate methodological and conceptual innovation and diversity rather than favouring a single approach. In addition to traditional quantitative methods, members use a variety of different methods of policy analysis, such as qualitative research, discourse analysis, interpretive, narrative, deliberative and practice-based methods, political ethnography, as well as action research and co-production. Find out more.