The Road to the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation A Policy Reconstruction through the Multiple Streams Framework

This book offers a policy analysis of the emergence of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) through the lens of John Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework. Drawing on 32 expert interviews with key stakeholders—including EU institution representatives (such as trilogue negotiators), member states, industry leaders, NGOs, and journalists—the author provides a deep dive into the decision-making process behind the regulation. Additionally, the study examines 462 position papers from the EU Commission’s consultation phases (2009–2011) to uncover the factors that shaped the adoption of the GDPR. At its core, this work explores the ‘window of opportunity’ that enabled the regulation's adoption.

Introduction.- Theoretical Framework.- Methodology.- Tracing Data Protection: National, International, and EU Milestones.- The Road to the GDPR: The European Problem Stream.- The Road to the GDPR: The European Policy Stream.- The Road to the GDPR: The European Political Stream.- The Policy Entrepreneurs.- The Window of Opportunity.- Conclusions.

David Alejandro Muñiz Hernández is a researcher at Fulda University of Applied Sciences with a focus on privacy, data protection, and policy analysis.