Volume 53, Issue 4 (Nov., 1991) | Frank R. Baumgartner, Bryan D. Jones
Frank R. Baumgartner and Bryan D. Jones explore the dynamics of policy subsystems in *The Journal of Politics* (1991). They argue that a single process can explain both periods of extreme stability and rapid change in public policy outcomes, which is the interaction between policy images and existing political institutions. Policy images, shaped by beliefs and values, influence the reception of policies in different institutional venues. In a pluralist system, subsystems can be created that favor specific industries, but other venues can serve as avenues for disaffected groups. Using the case of civilian nuclear policy, they examine how policy images and venues interact to lead to rapid creation, destruction, or alteration of policy subsystems. They highlight the role of strategic actions by policymakers, including attempts to control policy images and seek favorable venues for policy consideration. The paper discusses the historical shift in public perception of nuclear power from positive to negative, and how this change, along with regulatory and congressional changes, led to the collapse of the nuclear power industry. The authors conclude that both incrementalism and rapid change are part of the same process, and that policy subsystems can shift from equilibrium to dramatic reversals over time.Frank R. Baumgartner and Bryan D. Jones explore the dynamics of policy subsystems in *The Journal of Politics* (1991). They argue that a single process can explain both periods of extreme stability and rapid change in public policy outcomes, which is the interaction between policy images and existing political institutions. Policy images, shaped by beliefs and values, influence the reception of policies in different institutional venues. In a pluralist system, subsystems can be created that favor specific industries, but other venues can serve as avenues for disaffected groups. Using the case of civilian nuclear policy, they examine how policy images and venues interact to lead to rapid creation, destruction, or alteration of policy subsystems. They highlight the role of strategic actions by policymakers, including attempts to control policy images and seek favorable venues for policy consideration. The paper discusses the historical shift in public perception of nuclear power from positive to negative, and how this change, along with regulatory and congressional changes, led to the collapse of the nuclear power industry. The authors conclude that both incrementalism and rapid change are part of the same process, and that policy subsystems can shift from equilibrium to dramatic reversals over time.