A threefold perspective: conditions for collaborative governance

Abstract

Collaborative governance arrangements have been touted as a useful tool in a world of multiple actors and dynamic public policy. However, they are also cumbersome, costly, difficult to manage, and may be problematic from the democratic perspective. In this theoretical paper we explore the question: Under what conditions is it beneficial to promote collaborative governance arrangements and when is it not? To answer this question, we utilize a three-layer conceptual perspective. In the first layer, we focus on identifying the values most suitable for these arrangements. In the second layer, we look at different situational decisions and the last layer examines the context. While this perspective does not provide a definitive guide, we believe it could contribute to the theoretical and practical development of collaborative arrangements.