Advancing Major Policy Change Analysis in the Advocacy Coalition Framework

ABSTRACT The Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) has been used extensively to study policy processes globally. Existing research, however, fails to sequence the combination of factors that influence policy change. Using theory‐testing process tracing and a within‐case study design focused on Ghana and Nigeria, we address these knowledge gaps by answering the research question: How does the interaction between external and internal shocks, and the sequence of subsystem internal dynamics, lead to major policy change? The data were collected from 40 interviews and over 600 news media articles spanning 30 years. We find that initial triggers comprising the oil discovery in Ghana and regime change in Nigeria influenced dynamic factors, such as coalition formation and policy‐oriented learning, leading to policy change. We propose a tripartite scheme for analyzing policy change: initial triggers (external and internal shocks), sequence of factors (subsystem internal dynamics), and outcome (major policy change). Related Articles Nam, Aerang, & Christopher M. Weible. 2023. “Examining Experts' Discourse in South Korea's Nuclear Power Policy Making: An Advocacy Coalition Framework Approach to Policy Knowledge.” Politics & Policy 51(2): 201–221. 10.1111/polp.12522 . Nwalie, Martin Ike. 2019. “Advocacy Coalition Framework and Policy Changes in a Third‐World Country.” Politics & Policy 47(3): 545–568. 10.1111/polp.12302 . Bandelow, Nils C., Johanna Hornung, & Sofie Klingner. 2025. “A Multidimensional Operationalization of Policy Change.” Politics & Policy 53(5): e70073. 10.1111/polp.70073 .