by Ilana Schröder & Eva E.A. Wolf
In a recent article published in Policy & Politics, Ilana Schröder & Eva Wolf examine a topic that is central to policymaking but often receives less explicit attention than it deserves: policy conflict. While conflicts are an inherent feature of policy processes, the authors argue that research on what policy conflicts are, how they unfold, and what consequences they produce remains fragmented across different research traditions.
Through a systematic review of 85 empirical studies published between 2000 and 2024, the article brings together insights that are currently dispersed across policy process theories, interpretive policy studies, collaborative governance research, implementation studies, and conflict scholarship. In doing so, it offers a more integrated understanding of how conflicts shape policy processes and produce different kinds of consequences.
Conflict as more than a policy problem
The review begins from the observation that policy conflicts are frequently treated as a policy problem. Existing research often focuses on how conflict delays implementation, complicates decision-making, undermines collaboration, or contributes to policy failure.
At the same time, several scholars have suggested that conflict should not be understood solely in negative terms. Drawing together findings from a wide range of empirical studies, Schröder and Wolf explore both the destructive and productive consequences of policy conflict.
The review shows that destructive consequences can include trust erosion, frustration, disengagement, polarisation, resistance, and delays in policy implementation. These outcomes are often associated with mistrust, conflict avoidance, rigid institutional arrangements, exclusion, and the demonisation of opponents.
The productive potential of policy conflict
One of the article’s most important contributions is its demonstration that policy conflicts can also generate productive outcomes.
Across the studies reviewed, conflict was linked to policy learning, stakeholder engagement, policy innovation, agenda change, and institutional change. In some cases, conflict increased participation by drawing new actors into policy debates. In others, it helped raise awareness of neglected issues, encouraged creative problem-solving, or opened opportunities for learning and adaptation.
The review also identifies a number of conditions associated with these productive consequences. Trust-building, dialogue, institutional flexibility, and opportunities for information-sharing appear particularly important in enabling conflicts to become constructive rather than destructive.
Bridging fragmented research traditions
Importantly, the authors find that scholars often study similar conflict phenomena using different concepts and vocabularies. Although policy conflicts are examined across multiple theoretical traditions, these conversations frequently remain disconnected from one another which limits cumulative learning.
By synthesising findings across these fragmented research traditions, the article contributes to a broader conversation about what conflict does in policymaking and why it produces different consequences in different contexts.
Rather than viewing conflict simply as something to be avoided, Schröder and Wolf suggest that greater attention should be paid to its productive potential. As public policy becomes increasingly contested, understanding how policy conflicts shape learning, participation, innovation, and change may become an increasingly important area of research.
You can read the original research in Policy & Politics at
Schröder, I., & Wolf, E. E. (2026). A systematic review of policy conflict and its (un)productive consequences. Policy & Politics (published online ahead of print 2026) from https://doi.org/10.1332/03055736Y2026D000000101
If you enjoyed this blog post, you may also be interested in reading:
Torfing, J., Payandeh, R., Jalili, S. M., & Banafi, M. (2026). A systematic review of conflict within collaborative governance. Policy & Politics, 54(1), 2-25 from https://doi.org/10.1332/03055736Y2025D000000070
Policy & Politics Journal Blog 