On a branching route: The spectrum of path dependence in policy research

Abstract This article describes the evolution of discussions around the concept of path dependence, which has established itself as an explanatory framework in various academic disciplines, including policy research. It outlines the diversity of conceptual ideas, presents efforts at specification that have expanded the range of possible interpretations of path dependence through different approaches, and illustrates the application of the concept in social and environmental policy. In these two policy areas, the concept is relevant to academic discourse in different ways, suggesting that the meaning of concepts is influenced by their respective contexts of discussion. The article shows that the lack of consensus on a single interpretation, which has contributed to the concept's inherent ambiguity, has not hindered its continued use. Today, there are numerous plausible reference points for engaging with the concept of path dependence in policy research.