Approaching Actors - Institutions - Ideas Interactions in Public Policy and Policy Process Research

Interactions of actors, institutions, and ideas are shaping public policies and the policy process. Changing conditions are affecting these interactions and their outcomes. To better understand contemporary public policies and policymaking, it is important to address interactions among these basic elements. The 2026 section, endorsed by the ECPR Standing Group on Public Policy, will provide a platform for discussing research on interactions of policy actors, institutions, ideas, and their outputs and outcomes. The Section stimulates critical and ongoing dialogue, demonstrated during previous ECPR Sections. It brings together policy scholars at all career levels from Europe and globally to reflect on cutting-edge research in their field and contribute papers with diverse theoretical and methodological orientations in sub-national, national, international, or comparative settings. The Section ▪ provides a networking and community-building opportunity for policy scholars from different generations and countries who share common interests in policy process research and particular agendas; ▪ assesses and develops theoretical, methodological, and empirical knowledge concerning policymaking and policy change; ▪ encourages dialogue among different perspectives and on cross-cutting themes concerning the policy process and public policy.