A stakeholder analysis of Colorado climate and energy issues using policy analytical capacity and the advocacy coalition framework

Abstract

Noticeably absent from the tools and techniques in policy analysis are methods for understanding political contexts, including the beliefs, networks, resources, and activities of policy actors. In combination, Policy Analytical Capacity and the Advocacy Coalition Framework offer one appropriate solution. We apply both approaches to analyze the Colorado climate and energy policy subsystem using questionnaire data. In the policy subsystem, we identify a large proclimate change coalition and a smaller anticlimate change coalition. Member beliefs between rival coalitions diverge in regard to the cause, severity, and solutions needed to address climate change adaptation and mitigation issues. Both coalitions report similar levels of individual and organizational capacity to generate and analyze information and to engage in similar activities and strategies. This article contributes to the public policy literature by applying both Policy Analytical Capacity and the Advocacy Coalition Framework and by emphasizing individual, organizational, and subsystem levels in conducting a stakeholder analysis.