The aim of this 12th ICPA-Forum and JCPA WORKSHOP is to reflect and hopefully improve our understanding of theory in Comparative Policy Analysis.

Comparative Policy Analysis is an essential part of both the academic world and the world of policy making. Although there may be different degrees to which these worlds accept each other, the relation of both is usually described as antagonistic if not at antipodes. On the one hand this did not prevent Comparative Policy Analysis from having become an extensive re- search industry – but mainly at the level of comparisons of a small number of entities – usually two nations, without pretentions of theory development or application.

On the other hand Comparative Policy Analysis is a methodological on-going challenge which needs to be addressed, if the results can be said to have any validity, reliability, and robustness.

Thus, this Workshop intends to inquire whether Comparative Policy Analysis can profit if: (1) policy analytical theory can be improved -- especially if we can apply an instrumental definition of theory; (2) we can identify and integrate key elements which are of crucial importance in real world policy making.

Fundamentally, this symposium explores what ‘the academic world’ should and can do to get closer to its fundamentals and we will focus on two important elements of the hybrid status of theory in comparative policy analysis:

- the instrumental aspect of theory (e.g. in its pragmatic tradition); and, - how to deal with space and time as central vectors or change and dynamics

as vital powers in policy making.

A selection of contributions will be published in a special issue of The Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, following the Journal’s standard double blindfold reviewing process.

Workshop Selection Criteria:

- scholarly quality - suitability of the subject matter - contribution to comparative theory development - focus on the interaction of theory and praxis and/or - focus on one or more of the above mentioned variables (time, space, change, dynamics) - critical discussion of popular theories, approaches or models in policy analysis.

Submission of abstracts:

An abstract of around 300 words is to be submitted to the symposium convenor Professor Klaus Schubert by May 15th, 2014 (klaus.schubert@uni-muenster.de). A reply will be given by June 15th, 2014.