The Dynamics of Coordination and Actor Movements in Advocacy Coalitions: A Theoretical Longitudinal Perspective Within the ACF

ABSTRACT This theoretical article examines the dynamics of stability and change in public policy coalitions using the Advocacy Coalition Framework as a foundation. We focus on how intra‐coalition and inter‐coalition coordination serves as a causal factor influencing the stability of coalition composition and the mobility of actors over time, especially in response to external shocks. We argue that coordination, alongside shared beliefs, plays a fundamental role in explaining why coalition members remain or move, complementing the belief‐oriented explanations traditionally emphasized by the ACF. Three key dimensions of coordination are highlighted as innovative contributions: the level of coordination among actors, the sectoral diversity of coalition members, and the centrality of influential actors. We outline a set of propositions about coordination and actor movements that can guide future empirical research. We suggest that longitudinal case studies and process tracing would be suitable methods to investigate these propositions in domains such as environmental policy. Related Articles Crawford, A. M., and C. M. Weible. 2025. “Advocacy Coalition Representation.” Politics & Policy 53, no. 6: e70103. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.70103 . Haar, R. N. 2024. “Democratic Interventionists versus Pragmatic Realists: Employing the Advocacy Coalition Framework to Explain Obama's Shift in Multilateralism with European Allies.” Politics & Policy 52, no. 6: 1284–1309. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12641 . Nowlin, M. C., M. Trochmann, and T. M. Rabovsky. 2022. “Advocacy Coalitions and Political Control.” Politics & Policy 50, no. 2: 201–224. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12458 .