Tracing Policy Networks in Education Reforms: A Comparative Study of Norway and Sweden

Scholars have documented the role of policy networks in education. However, we know little about policy networks in sociopolitical contexts dominated by the state and its bureaucracy. Focusing on Norway and Sweden, we analyze education policy networks by constructing author co-citation networks from recent reform-related official documents. The findings underscore the paramount influence of the state in both countries’ networks, alongside the notable presence of the OECD. Furthermore, our analysis highlights the capacity of individual authors to attain central positions within these networks. Despite important similarities, the analysis reveals meaningful differences in network structure—Norway’s network is more hierarchical and diverse, whereas Sweden’s is denser and more centralized—rooted in differing traditions of institutional coordination and expert engagement. In other words, the countries vary in how they organize expertise and integrate research communities into the policymaking process.