Abstract:
Policy-making is a complex process in which multiple
actors are involved throughout its different stages,
especially in the implementation phase. Tobacco
control policy is one major policy example that
portrays the complex interlink of roles present among
different actors. This paper looks at the case of
Lebanon, where the Lebanese parliament approved
the Law No. 174 on 17/8/2011 that bans smoking
in public places. The law, which was the culmination
of concerted efforts of multiple actors, is not yet fully
implemented. Our study uses a network analysis tool
to understand the relationships among policy actors
involved in the implementation of the tobacco control
policy. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect
quantitative and qualitative data on the contact,
flow of money and information exchange among
actors. The network structure was assessed based
on centrality, betweenness, and density indicators.
The network analysis revealed some key structural
weaknesses that have hindered implementation
efforts, particularly regarding the poor coordination
between stakeholders. Our analysis also highlights
the central role that the government continues to
play, even as non-governmental organizations have
asserted themselves more forcefully in the policymaking
process.
