| This dissertation seeks to explore a point of convergence among theories of policymaking, democratic discourse, and collaboration within the context of public land management. In order to examine the motivations of individuals and groups to participate in collaborative policy efforts, the transformative effects of discursive dialogues on policy values and preferences, and the potential for discursive policy dialogues in the resolution of policy conflicts, a case study of the recently-formed Colorado Plateau Forum is presented. The Colorado Plateau Forum is a collaborative policy group composed of representatives from federal, state, and local government, the business community, interest groups, and private citizens, all of whom come together to discuss public policy issues on the Colorado Plateau. While the process of collaboration has been primarily examined through the use of organizational theory, this dissertation uses political theory to examine the collaborative process as manifested in the Colorado Plateau Forum. Three areas of inquiry provide the foundation of this case study.;First, John Dryzek's (Dryzek, 1990) theory of discursive democracy is used to evaluate the Colorado Plateau Forum's process and structure (the "how"). Dryzek's theory of "discursive democracy" speaks directly to standards of democratic dialogue and structure, and is used as the primary political theory through which to examine and evaluate the collaborative process.;Second, Paul Sabatier's (Jenkins-Smith and Sabatier, 1993; Sabatier, 1988) "advocacy coalition theory" of policy change is used along side other discussions of successful collaborations (Gray, 1996, Roberts and Bradley, 1991; Bingham, 1986) in examining the outcomes ("to what end") of collaboration. The definition of a "policy subsystem" as articulated by Sabatier can be applied to the Colorado Plateau Forum, and his theory of "policy learning" speaks directly to policy preference and value change.;Third, through a consideration of Barbara Gray's theories (Gray and Wood, 1991; Gray, 1989) regarding the formation of collaborative processes, the motivations for the formation of and participation in the Colorado Plateau Forum are evaluated (the "why"). Gray's discussions of the "complex" contexts of federalism and inter-agency relations, the "turbulent" context of pluralist policymaking, and the "disruptive" role that litigation plays in the policymaking process are particularly relevant to this examination.;The "point of convergence" amongst these three frameworks is to be found in: (1) the notion of policy values and/or preference change; (2) the complex and conflictual social and political dynamics these frameworks respond to; and (3) the dialogic manner in which they operate. Beyond the specific questions posed by this study, these frameworks are examined in an effort to generally answer three questions: (1) what political and policy conditions may foster the formation of collaborative policy efforts? (2) can discursive dialogues contribute to a change or moderation in individual policy preferences and/or values? and (3) can discursive dialogues and discursive designs contribute to the amelioration of policy conflict?... |
