Policy Research

Policy image resilience, multidimensionality, and policy image management: a study of US biofuel policy

Renee O’Connell

Summary

The authors provide a history of the rise of biofuels in the US and use the work of political scientists such as Baumgartner and Jones to explain why attacks by powerful interests such as the oil industry, food producers, and those fighting hunger had little negative impact on the production of biofuels and government policies that promote biofuels. Opponents of biofuels rallied behind the catchy “food before fuel” slogan, but the biofuels advocacy coalition was able to react cohesively and develop a central message that logically blamed the oil industry and food producers for the spike in food prices. The authors go beyond the simple argument posited by political equilibrium theory that those fighting biofuels were not successful not only because of failed venue shopping but also argue that biofuel opponents failed for three other reasons: the congruence of the biofuel policy image with core values and current national concerns, the multidimensionality of the policy image, and the policy image management strategies of biofuel supporters.

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Policy Implications

This case provides an excellent example of policy image resilience and successful example of policy image management. By studying how the images of certain policies remain resilient under assault, the authors provide an example for other advocacy coalitions to keep their head above water while enduring significant assaults by other groups. The attacks made on biofuels had significant national media coverage on many major outlets, making biofuels an insightful case study for enduring such negative media coverage. Although multidimensionality of an issue can have positive or negative benefits, policy monopolies such as biofuels can fare better under attack when they have a multidimensional image as they have a wide array of explanations to diffract to. The authors believe these arguments could be extended to other polities, especially those that have multiple policy making venues.