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Dealing with bad guys: actor- and process-level determinants of the “devil shift” in policy making

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  • Fischer, Manuel
  • Ingold, Karin
  • Sciarini, Pascal
  • Varone, Frédéric

Abstract

Policy actors tend to misinterpret and distrust opponents in policy processes. This phenomenon, known as the “devil shift”, consists of the following two dimensions: actors perceive opponents as more powerful and as more evil than they really are. Analysing nine policy processes in Switzerland, this article highlights the drivers of the devil shift at two levels. On the actor level, interest groups, political parties and powerful actors suffer more from the devil shift than state actors and powerless actors. On the process level, the devil shift is stronger in policy processes dealing with socio-economic issues as compared with other issues. Finally, and in line with previous studies, there is less empirical evidence of the power dimension of the devil shift phenomenon than of its evilness dimension.

Suggested Citation

  • Fischer, Manuel & Ingold, Karin & Sciarini, Pascal & Varone, Frédéric, 2016. "Dealing with bad guys: actor- and process-level determinants of the “devil shift” in policy making," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 36(2), pages 309-334, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jnlpup:v:36:y:2016:i:02:p:309-334_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Jennifer A. Kagan & Tanya Heikkila & Christopher M. Weible & Duncan Gilchrist & Ramiro Berardo & Hongtao Yi, 2023. "Advancing scholarship on policy conflict through perspectives from oil and gas policy actors," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 56(3), pages 573-594, September.
    2. Bolognesi, Thomas & Pflieger, Géraldine, 2024. "Do you perceive interdependencies among human activities related to water? Drivers and effects on preferences for participation and regulation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    3. Gwen Arnold, 2022. "A threat-centered theory of policy entrepreneurship," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 55(1), pages 23-45, March.
    4. Jens Nilsson & Annica Sandström & Daniel Nohrstedt, 2020. "Beliefs, social identity, and the view of opponents in Swedish carnivore management policy," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 53(3), pages 453-472, September.

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