ABSTRACT
This chapter proceeds from an overview of the theoretical literature to concrete empirical applications. It discusses the promises and pitfalls of the major existing theoretical frameworks on the political process. The chapter introduces to incrementalism as the 'baseline model of politics'. Building on a brief introduction to incrementalism as the 'baseline model of politics', the chapter discusses the multiple streams approach, the garbage can model, Birkland's model of event-related policy change, and the punctuated equilibrium framework. The chapter also focuses on the distinct ways of those frameworks conceptualize and model the policy impact of potential focusing events. It analyses the politics of gun policy and existing typologies of crises and disasters. The chapter examines the existing empirical literature on rampage shootings and similar events. It argues both politicization and policy change can be conceived of as outcomes shaped by the interplay of several contextual conditions.
