So You Want to Build a New Policy Theory? Seven Lessons from the Origins of the Advocacy Coalition Framework

This paper examines the intellectual history of the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) to draw lessons for building new policy theories. It draws seven lessons: (1) Know your dilemma – know it well; (2) Plot a path forward – be ambitious, even in the midst of uncertainty; (3) Expect obstacles and resistance to your ideas; (4) Think beyond a single article – build a research program; (5) Stay flexible – adapt and adjust to feedback and opportunities; (6) Build your network of supporters and collaborators; and (7) Offer methods. The article argues that the ACF’s origins provide insights into how enduring policy process theories emerge and develop.