The rave as a contemporary political phenomenon

Abstract

This thesis was concerned with identifying how (i) actors within the Maltese rave scene policy subsystem are described, and (ii) whether raving communities influence public policy in their attempts to do so. To carry out this research, two Qualitative Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) studies were carried out: a Qualitative Media Analysis and Qualitative Semi-Structured Interviews. Conforming with NPF and Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) scholarship, this thesis showed that dominant policy narratives influence the policy process. This was identifiable through an analysis of policy narratives and the identification of coalitions within the Maltese rave scene policy subsystem. Results also showed that the Maltese rave scene does have a political dynamic, and that raving communities either chose to coalitions to articulate policy preferences or defied laws aimed at rave parties, however the effect of either strategies on policy outcomes could not be determined. This thesis contributed to the novel Qualitative applicability of the NPF and furthered ACF scholarship in a low salience policy area.