Studies in Public Service Administration

A Scoping Review of Theories of Discourse in Public Policy

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Hadi Khanmohamadi 1
Hamidreza Damiri 2

1 Associate Professor, Department of Public Administration Faculty of Management and Accounting, Allameh Tabatabaei University ; Tehran, Iran

2 PhD student in public administration. Public policy making. Faculty of Management and Accounting. Allameh Tabatabaei University.

https://doi.org/10.22054/spsa.2026.90136.1096
Abstract
The present study aims to explain and systematize policy discourse. This field has become one of the main streams of policy analysis after the argumentative turn and the expansion of interpretive approaches. Despite the extensive capacities of discourse approaches such as critical discourse analysis, narrative-centric policy, and discursive institutionalism, the existing literature still faces conceptual fragmentation and the lack of a comprehensive picture of the components of policy discourse. Therefore, the study, using the scoping review method and examining scientific sources, has extracted the fundamental components of policy discourse, explained its main mechanisms, and conducted an analytical critique of each identified dimension. The findings show that policy discourse is not merely a linguistic layer but a mechanism for meaning-making, problem representation, narrative construction, the organization of semantic alliances, the exercise of power, and institutionalization in the policymaking process. Discourse operates within social and institutional contexts and shapes policymakers’ perceptions and interpretations through tools such as framing, argumentation, and discursive action. The research concludes that policy discourse analysis is a powerful tool for understanding the relationships among meaning, power, and action and can help improve decision-making and develop more equitable policies.
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Studies in Public Service Administration
Volume 3, Issue 9
Summer 2025
Pages 51-90

  • Receive Date 07 December 2025
  • Revise Date 07 February 2026
  • Accept Date 08 February 2026

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