Understanding policy change with the advocacy coalition framework: an application to Swiss drug policy

Over the last two decades, Swiss drug policy has moved away from a prohibitionist to a ‘harm reduction’ model. This article uses the advocacy coalition framework (ACF) to understand this process of policy change, drawing on social movement theory to overcome shortcomings of the ACF regarding collective action. We argue that recent history in the Želd of drug policy in Switzerland can plausibly be presented as a competition between coalitions advocating belief systems regarding problems and policy. The Aids epidemic is considered a crucial noncognitive event helping the harm reduction coalition to overthrow the hegemonic abstinence coalition. Public order issues linked to harm reduction facilities led neighbourhood quality of life advocates to impede the location of such facilities, which, in turn, stimulated policy-oriented learning with harm reduction advocates. The analysis supports the ACF’s hypotheses on policy change, but social movement theory provides insights into coalition formation, persistence and strategies.