One cheer for Jordan and Cairney: Taking the governance literature seriously

Abstract

In a recent contribution to this journal, Jordan and Cairney have helped focus attention on the concept of policy style. Here, we examine their arguments critically to make four points. First, their treatment of the extant policy networks literature is problematic in various ways. Second, the policy styles literature needs to engage more directly with the governance literature. Third, while the literature on governance suggests that there are three modes of governance – hierarchy, markets and networks – it is generally the ‘mix that matters’. Consequently, there are both similarities and differences between countries’ policy styles. Fourth, the policy styles literature, like the network governance literature, plays down the importance of the role that citizens, as distinct from experts, can, and to an extent do, play in policymaking.