On Lenses and Filters: The Role of Metaphor in Policy Theory

A postpostivist turn in policy theorizing has opened up avenues of analysis that reveal the complex role that language, especially metaphor, plays in policy work. Simultaneously, linguists have been improving our understanding of metaphor and the powerful cognitive import of its deployment in a variety of discourses. Through a brief overview of some recent uses of the “lens” metaphor and a more in depth look at one policy theory article, the importance of attention to language and metaphor for policy theory can be demonstrated.