ABSTRACT
Policy systems are necessarily knowledge-driven; the connection between narrative and knowledge, therefore, merits much deeper reflection. In addition to the age-old question “What counts as knowledge?” issues of knowledge construction, justification, plausibility, and other related matters, seen through the lens of narrative, reveal the very real challenges policy analysts may face when trying to come to terms with policy actions as an outcome of epistemological inputs. Whether this concerns the policy analyst evaluating and formulating policy in service of the policy-maker, or the policy scholar seeking to understand the inputs and outcomes of a policy process, there is much value in deeper awareness of the fundamental workings of narrative, especially in conjunction with other phenomena such as language and culture. Policy persuasion, the influence of interest groups or powerful individuals, the climate of a policy environment and how sensitive it may be to current events are not just contemporary concerns, but are historical as well. To say that narratives persuade is a trivial given. More importantly, we wish to explore how cultural policies, as narrative, fit within a narrated world. We note that while cultural policies may be regarded (and interpreted along the same lines) as narrative, the effects that narrative frameworks have on an individual’s understanding of policy events are also relevant and must be taken into account.
