What the study found
The article argues that the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) does not include an analytically independent emotional mechanism, even though emotion and cognition are deeply intertwined. It proposes that emotions may shape coalition membership and policy behavior in ways that can occur independently of, or before, belief alignment.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say this is especially relevant in policy subsystems built around morally charged, identity-laden disputes. The study suggests that adding emotion to the framework could better capture how emotions influence coalition membership, strategic behavior, policy-oriented learning, and policy change.
What the researchers tested
This is a conceptual article, not an empirical test. It examines patterns of coalition membership and policymaker roles across policy subsystems, and it proposes theoretical extensions such as emotional anchoring of policymakers, affective policy subsystems, and affective brokerage.
What worked and what didn't
The article proposes that policymakers may sometimes act as emotionally anchored coalition members, sometimes support coalition aims without that anchoring, and sometimes rely on technocratic discourse guided by expertise, evidence, or institutional duty outside coalition dynamics. It also proposes that durable emotional anchoring may persist over time and shape coalition stability, strategic behavior, policy-oriented learning, and policy change. The abstract does not report empirical results confirming these claims.
What to keep in mind
The abstract presents theory development rather than a data-based evaluation, so no empirical findings are reported. It also notes that methods for measuring externally expressed and internally felt emotions are explored, but it does not provide details of a completed measurement study.
Key points
- The article says the Advocacy Coalition Framework lacks an independent emotional mechanism.
- It proposes that emotion may influence coalition membership before or apart from belief alignment.
- The authors introduce three extensions: emotional anchoring of policymakers, affective policy subsystems, and affective brokerage.
- The abstract says durable emotional anchoring may shape coalition stability, strategic behavior, policy-oriented learning, and policy change.
- This is a conceptual article; the abstract does not report empirical test results.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Article proposes adding emotion to coalition theory
- Authors:
- Moshe Maor
- Institutions:
- Reichman University
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-05
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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