Proceedings of the International Association for Business and Society

Volume 1, 1990

Proceedings of the First Annual Meeting

Political Strategy and Issues Evolution
Toward a Framework for Analysis and Action

This paper proposes a new way of looking at the issues life cycle that is based on process rather than events. The analysis addresses the relationships among issue determinants, issue evolution, and political strategy. It is proposed that there are four determinants of issues (facts, values, interests, and policies ), and four stages in the issues life cycle (emeergence. interpretation, positioning, and resolution ). The links between action in early stages of the life cycle and the limitations that places on corporate political strategy is also addressed.