Whose frame is it anyways?

Abstract

The field of interest representation seeks to uncover the power of individual actors to shape decisions by policymakers. But what of their power to influence how we collectively understand problems? When the public debate narrows down to one issue, whose frame is that? This study attempts to find if interest representatives are able to shape the public debates when an exogenous geo-economic shock happens. The change in the opportunity structure that representatives face makes ‘geo-economic’ frames attractive. Drawing on social movement theory, using quantitative content analysis, this study formulates diagnostic and prognostic frames and traces their development following the covid-19 crisis and the 2022 energy crisis in the online consultation. Collective issue definition appears to change most following political elite reframing, shown through the Letta and Draghi reports. The importance of policymakers’ positioning on individual interest representatives’ framing behaviour is underscored.