A discourse approach to the policy-making process (Case study of cryptocurrency mining's electricity tariff)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Management and Social Sciences, Niroo Research Institute, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Understanding the complexities of the policy-making process and examining why and how decisions are made can pave the way for more effective, efficient and sustainable policies. By discovering the local pattern of energy policy-making in a given case study (cryptocurrency mining's electricity tariff), using the method of discourse analysis of stakeholders involved in the process in the advocacy coalition framework, action-reaction mode of policy-makers and decision-makers in this area is interpreted. Coding of data was performed based on inductive approach with Atlas.T exploratory analysis software. The results were obtained from 11 semi-structured field interviews with different stakeholders, 58 administrative documents and 49 interview and news texts published in the official news media. In the cryptocurrency mining's electricity tariff subsystem, among the three discourses: opportunistic, threatening and problematic, that coalitions are formed around each of them, problematic discourse and emphasis on serving the public interest prevail. The advocators of this coalition are often government institutions and the final policy is based on this coalition's proposed alternative. Analysis of evidence in the form of causal mechanisms of advocacy coalition framework can predict future changes to this policy.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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