A threat-centered theory of policy entrepreneurship

Abstract We know relatively little about the conditions that encourage people to jump into political fray as policy entrepreneurs, advocates who devote substantial time, energy, and resources campaigning for a goal. This paper aims fill gap by investigating catalysts of entrepreneurship in municipalities across State New York, where between 2008 2012, hundreds local jurisdictions passed measures opposing or supporting high-volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking). These actions were often enthusiastically encouraged and, some cases, vociferously opposed, enterprising advocates. I propose threat-centered theory entrepreneurship, emphasizing role loss aversion pushing actors toward advocacy. The empirical analysis shows oppositional advocacy within polity draws would-be entrepreneurs battle.