Policy learning as complex contagion: how social networks shape organizational beliefs in forest-based climate change mitigation
Policy learning can alter the perceptions of both the seriousness and the causes of a policy problem, thus also altering the perceived need to do something about the problem. This then allows for the informed weighing of different policy options. Taking a social network perspective, we argue that th...
| Autores principales: | , , , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
Springer
2021
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/116343 |
| _version_ | 1855543102130880512 |
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| author | Gronow, A. Brockhaus, Maria Gregorio, M. di Karimo, A. Ylä-Anttila, T. |
| author_browse | Brockhaus, Maria Gregorio, M. di Gronow, A. Karimo, A. Ylä-Anttila, T. |
| author_facet | Gronow, A. Brockhaus, Maria Gregorio, M. di Karimo, A. Ylä-Anttila, T. |
| author_sort | Gronow, A. |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Policy learning can alter the perceptions of both the seriousness and the causes of a policy problem, thus also altering the perceived need to do something about the problem. This then allows for the informed weighing of different policy options. Taking a social network perspective, we argue that the role of social influence as a driver of policy learning has been overlooked in the literature. Network research has shown that normatively laden belief change is likely to occur through complex contagion—a process in which an actor receives social reinforcement from more than one contact in its social network. We test the applicability of this idea to policy learning using node-level network regression models on a unique longitudinal policy network survey dataset concerning the Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) initiative in Brazil, Indonesia, and Vietnam. We find that network connections explain policy learning in Indonesia and Vietnam, where the policy subsystems are collaborative, but not in Brazil, where the level of conflict is higher and the subsystem is more established. The results suggest that policy learning is more likely to result from social influence and complex contagion in collaborative than in conflictual settings. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace116343 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publishDateRange | 2021 |
| publishDateSort | 2021 |
| publisher | Springer |
| publisherStr | Springer |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1163432025-02-19T13:42:59Z Policy learning as complex contagion: how social networks shape organizational beliefs in forest-based climate change mitigation Gronow, A. Brockhaus, Maria Gregorio, M. di Karimo, A. Ylä-Anttila, T. policy analysis climate change mitigation Policy learning can alter the perceptions of both the seriousness and the causes of a policy problem, thus also altering the perceived need to do something about the problem. This then allows for the informed weighing of different policy options. Taking a social network perspective, we argue that the role of social influence as a driver of policy learning has been overlooked in the literature. Network research has shown that normatively laden belief change is likely to occur through complex contagion—a process in which an actor receives social reinforcement from more than one contact in its social network. We test the applicability of this idea to policy learning using node-level network regression models on a unique longitudinal policy network survey dataset concerning the Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) initiative in Brazil, Indonesia, and Vietnam. We find that network connections explain policy learning in Indonesia and Vietnam, where the policy subsystems are collaborative, but not in Brazil, where the level of conflict is higher and the subsystem is more established. The results suggest that policy learning is more likely to result from social influence and complex contagion in collaborative than in conflictual settings. 2021-09 2021-11-26T09:04:59Z 2021-11-26T09:04:59Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/116343 en Open Access Springer Gronow, A., Brockhaus, M., Di Gregorio, M., Karimo, A., Ylä-Anttila, T., 2021. Policy learning as complex contagion: how social networks shape organizational beliefs in forest-based climate change mitigation. Policy Science, 54, 529-556. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-021-09418-2 |
| spellingShingle | policy analysis climate change mitigation Gronow, A. Brockhaus, Maria Gregorio, M. di Karimo, A. Ylä-Anttila, T. Policy learning as complex contagion: how social networks shape organizational beliefs in forest-based climate change mitigation |
| title | Policy learning as complex contagion: how social networks shape organizational beliefs in forest-based climate change mitigation |
| title_full | Policy learning as complex contagion: how social networks shape organizational beliefs in forest-based climate change mitigation |
| title_fullStr | Policy learning as complex contagion: how social networks shape organizational beliefs in forest-based climate change mitigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Policy learning as complex contagion: how social networks shape organizational beliefs in forest-based climate change mitigation |
| title_short | Policy learning as complex contagion: how social networks shape organizational beliefs in forest-based climate change mitigation |
| title_sort | policy learning as complex contagion how social networks shape organizational beliefs in forest based climate change mitigation |
| topic | policy analysis climate change mitigation |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/116343 |
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