Policy Mythology

A Case Study

Master thesis (2019)

Authors

C.P. Mc Mullen Technology, Policy and Management

Contributors

J.A. de Bruijn Organisation & Governance - TPM (coach)
E. Pruyt Policy Analysis - TPM (supervisor 1)
H. Asghari Organisation & Governance - TPM (supervisor 2)
Faculty
Technology, Policy and Management
Copyright: © 2019 Connor McMullen
Communication Public policy Plastics Storytelling
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Published Date

23-08-2019

Language

English

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Faculty

Technology, Policy and Management

Abstract

What happens when we treat our policy messages more like mythology and less like rhetoric? How can we even begin to structure policy as a mythology? What is a myth anyway? This thesis endeavors to explore the mysterious world of stories, through an extensive literature review of literary analysis, and a exemplary case study about the impact of global plastics production on the future. This study leads to an experiment, where four different forms of communication: the best of rhetoric and stories, are tested against each other for effectiveness in shifting the mood, transferring information, and effecting the audience's experience. The results show that even with a small sample size the impact of stories as effective tools of policy communication are real. They result in a drastically different message than the other forms tested, hinting at the possibility of a future where stories are central to shaping policy.