Crisis as a Driver of Policy Change

Crisis events are major drivers of policy change, a phenomenon well-documented in public policy research over time. Established theories of policy processes, such as the punctuated equilibrium framework and the advocacy coalition framework, have incorporated the study of crises into their analyses. This chapter builds upon this existing body of research and proposes to take it a step further. Specifically, we examine how different types of crises influence policy change. For instance, we explore the impact of localized crises, such as regional natural disasters; sector-specific crises, such as banking crises; and large-scale crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. To understand how these crises types affect policy change, this chapter proceeds in three steps. First, we discuss the varying degrees of policy change that crises can induce, ranging from minor adjustments to fundamental paradigm shifts. As outlined in the introduction, it is important to acknowledge that policy changes resulting from crises may be temporary. Second, the chapter examines factors that moderate the relationship between crises and policy change. These moderating factors include cultural and ideological beliefs and narratives, institutional characteristics such as political systems, and the historical institutionalization of public policies, among others. Third, we explore the long-term consequences of policy changes initiated during crises. This includes emphasizing the importance of incorporating insights from research on the historical dimensions of policy-making to highlight that even minor policy adjustments during crises can have lasting impacts. Additionally, we examine how the traumatic nature of crises can foster specific learning experiences that shape policy styles over extended periods.