Transnational issue-specific expert networking: A pathway to local policy change

Area of Science:

• Political Science
• Development Studies
• Sociology

Background:

• Subnational governments in developing and democratizing countries face challenges in enacting progressive policy change.
• Violence against women remains a critical issue requiring effective policy interventions at all governance levels.

Observation:

• The study examines subnational governments in Mexico and Nigeria using case study methods and small-n statistical analysis.
• It investigates how to advance policy change related to violence against women in these contexts.

Findings:

• Issue-specific expert networking emerges as a key civic pathway to subnational policy responsiveness.
• This networking facilitates the connection between local and global political actors and dynamics.
• Expert networks are crucial for the diffusion of international norms and policies concerning violence against women.

Implications:

• Empirical evidence supports the role of specialized networks in policy diffusion and implementation at the subnational level.
• The findings offer a model for promoting policy responsiveness to gender-based violence in similar political contexts.
• Understanding these pathways can inform strategies for international norm adoption and local policy adaptation.