Policy paradigm shifts are rare, especially within the same country and the same policy area. The prevailing conceptualisation of policy paradigm change in the policy studies literature is under-developed because of heavy reliance on studies of paradigm shifts in Anglo-American contexts and within economic policy, with the shift from Keynesianism to neoliberalism being a prominent example.

A narrative review of a broader collection of studies on policy paradigm shifts that includes analyses of shifts in other parts of the world and in other policy areas reveals a rich variety of ways that policy paradigm shifts unfold.

This presentation delves into the conceptualisation of this variety, outlining a typology of policy paradigm shifts based on the influence and interaction of political, material, institutional, agential, and ideational factors. The variety of causal pathways to transformative change suggested by the typology may also be of interest to practitioners championing alternative policy paradigms for tackling pressing issues like climate change, inequality, and health inequity.

About the speaker

Hridesh Gajurel is an ARC Laureate Research Fellow at the Planetary Health Equity Hothouse at the School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet) at ANU. He was previously a Lecturer in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Queensland. He has also worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher and Research Manager. He is a political economist who specialises in comparative capitalism, corporate governance, financialisation, and new institutional theory.

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This seminar presentation is a dual-delivery event. Registration is not required for in-person attendance as neither the ANU nor ACT Health conduct contact tracing.

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Image credit: Illustration of light bulb exploding with colourful spatter effect, symbolising an idea shattering, by tiero, from Adobe Stock, used under Educational Licence.