Policies Without Politics? LGBTIQ+ Policy Entrepreneurship in France and Italy: A Comparative Perspective

This article investigates the introduction and consolidation of LGBTIQ+ policymaking in France and Italy over the last decade. By applying a policy entrepreneurship framework, the contribution explores how innovation emerged in both countries, examining the role of government actors, external pressures, and civil society involvement, with a focus on how coalitions (and lack thereof) play a critical role in these processes. The study shows that while both France and Italy developed LGBTIQ+ strategies, the stabilization of these policies varied significantly. While France seems to achieve a stronger consolidation and sustained implementation, Italy's policy trajectory appears more discontinuous. The findings highlight the importance of stable political and administrative structures and coalitions in promoting effective LGBTIQ+ policy systems, and the need to consider innovation as related to concrete stabilization and implementation.