Socialdemokraternas friskolepolicy: Policyförändring utan policyinlärning mellan koalitioner

Sammanfattning: Abstract In this essay, policy change and learning is studied in the case of the Social Democratic Party and their policy concerning independent schools. Their policy differs clearly from the right-wing parties. Between 1991 and 1994, the right-wing government made substantial reforms concerning independent schools. The question posed in this essay is whether the policy of the Social Democratic Party has changed as a result of these actions, and if they have approached their right-wing counterparts. Using the Advocacy Coalition Framework, defining a policy as a result of the values the actor holds, the question is studied by applying the theory's assumptions of policy-learning across coalitions. The argumentation of the Social Democratic Party, as it is expressed in official text documents before and after the right-wing government, is analysed. While their argumentation has changed in all levels of values, policy-learning across coalitions is non-existent. This follows from the fact that there is a conflict between the coalition's normative values and the fact that one tends to interpret new information according to the values one already holds. The changes made in the Social Democratic Party's policy are specifications and strengthening of the arguments held before the right-wing government. Key words: Policy change, Policy learning, Advocacy Coalition Framework, Independent Schools, Social Democratic Party