Theoretical lenses of public policy present different approaches to understand the role of actors in policy change. They focus on different types of actors and assume different forms of rationality, strategy and resources. For example the Multiple Streams Approach (Kingdom 2011) refers to the idea of policy entrepreneurs that advocate their pet policies against ambiguous decision makers. The Advocacy Coalition Framework (Sabatier/Weible 2007) uses coalitions of actors, united by a common belief system, as the main point of reference. Single actors may influence policies by becoming policy brokers. Institutionalist theories focus on the role of institutions for the set of options actors may have (Scharpf 2000) and the development of institutions by political actors. More recently Mahoney and Thelen (2010) proposed a typology of change agents in order to explain different types of gradual change. Change-actors can also be structured by a shared policy reform program (Hassenteufel and al., 2010). The panel is interested in papers that address questions related to the role of actors from different perspectives. The papers might argue theoretically or present empirical evidence from different countries and policy areas. Contributions should be to one of the following questions : 1. Which type of actors influence policy change ? May policy analysis focus on individuals, coalitions, collective actors or organizations ? 2. Which type of rationality do political actors apply ? Do actors follow beliefs, interests, or do they react to situations ? 3. What resources are more relevant to influence policy change ? How is it possible to explain that in some cases actors promoting change succeed and in other cases not ? 4. Which sort of methods can policy analysis use to describe, understand or even measure the influence of actors on policy change ?

GUIDELINES FOR PAPER PROPOSAL Opportunities will be provided for both junior and senior researchers to present and discuss new research, theoretical, conceptual and methodological insights and empirical findings. The ICPP academic programme will be organised in the format of Panels. Each Panel can have 1, 2 or 3 two hour sessions and each session should be organised with four papers. The programme will be very broad, with Panels covering all the main areas of policy studies. Before proposing a paper, you must be verify that, if your proposal is accepted, you will attend the conference (http://icpp2013.sciencesconf.org/resource/page/id/7). To propose a paper proposal, you must e-mail to the panel chair (Patrick.Hassenteufel@uvsq.fr and Nils. Bandelow@tu-braunschweig.de) by February 1st 2013, a document (Word or eq.) containing: • The title of your proposal • The name, email and university of the author(s) • An abstract of 300 words to explain your proposal Paper proposers will be notified of the acceptance of their proposal by the panel’s chair before the 1st March. Internet: http://icpp2013.sciencesconf.org http://icpublicpolicy.org/spip.php?article47#CHANGE