Unity in diversity? When advocacy coalitions and policy beliefs grow trees in South Africa

Competing coalitions can stabilise policymaking and hinder policy changes that are required to address the mounting pressures on land use systems across globe. Thus, understanding driving forces of coalition formation is important. This paper builds Advocacy Coalition Framework determine relative contributions two sets beliefs (more general core more specific concerning instruments) in South African tree plantation politics identify therein. Discourse Network Analysis was used code 656 statements regarding 40 create network data from 55 interviews with organisational elites. Results a analysis twelve most salient indicate dissimilar about validity environmental regulation, social costs plantations, conditionality reform Africa divide actors into coalitions: hegemonic “business-as-usual” minority “justice change” coalition. These boundaries were confirmed by comparing based shared co-ordination network. Dissimilar instruments, including eco-certification an indicative zoning, also actors, yet actors’ reasoning for or against these instruments differ degree united fronts unlikely form. Hegemonic combine selected state business interests labour arguments prioritise short-term economic efficiency threaten delay necessary away business-as-usual beyond.