Concept Of Policy Networks Research Articles

Policy Networks in Ecotourism Governance: Evidence from Local Perspective

This study examined the governance of ecotourism at Dalegan Beach, with a focus on policy networks. The goal is to provide insights concerning actor, role, functions, characteristic, power relations and strategies, as well as factors driving and inhibiting the formation of network. The qualitative method was used to collect data through observations, in-depth interviews with informants, and document studies. The findings showed that the participation and roles of stakeholders, ranging from provincial governments to local communities, had a significant impact on beach tourism management. Despite the establishment of policy networks, challenges such as membership instability and coordination limitations among stakeholders linger. The concept of policy networks as a dynamic interaction system underscores the evolving relationships among various actors in the policy environment. These interactions are influenced by factors such as interests, preferences, and power dynamics among actors, which are used to influence decision-making processes and policy outcomes. The strategies employed by each actor can affect network dynamics and the policy process outcomes. Therefore, changes in the structure or power relations among actors in policy networks can impact the shape and direction of the policies.

Dynamics of the Policy Network in the Aspect of Global Crisis Phenomena (On the Example of NATO)

Introduction. A peculiarity of modern political reality is the interconnectedness of the processes of globalization and fragmentation in the world. In a new emerging paradigm of international relations, policy networks come to the fore. These are the network structures for managing public affairs, uniting a variety of political actors. The relevance of the study is due to the need for an objective evaluation of the development of the policy network in the context of global changes as well as forecasting potential threats in the field of international security. The aim of the work is to examine the dynamics of the policy network in the context of global crisis phenomena, using the example of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Methods. The theoretical basis of the research is the network approach and the concept of policy networks, which allow us to study the object from an interdisciplinary point of view and conduct structural studies at all levels of analysis. The complexity of the structure of policy networks requires the use of methods of scientific cognition – analysis and synthesis, media analytics such as the research of content, and expert opinions. Analysis. The policy network is characterized both by the resilience and stability of its structure, which allows it to function effectively in internal and external transformations, and by the complexity of the relations among its actors. Global policy networks are formed on the principles of mutually beneficial resource exchange to achieve common goals and solve individual problems. An example of how NATO has been functioning in the period 2020–2023 showcases trends towards the transformation of the policy network from disintegration to subsequent reintegration to obtain the desired result. In a crisis situation, NATO as a global policy network is experiencing the dynamics of “connected instability”, establishing new forms of actor relationships that require flexibility in political decision-making. Results. In conditions of global instability and uncertainty, policy networks play a supporting (safety-maintaining) role in the processes of supranational regulation, contributing to the creation of an effective architecture of multi-level governance. As a result of the research, the author comes to the conclusion that it is necessary to update the theory of the network approach to further develop mechanisms for describing the actors’ cooperation within the policy network.

Event-focused network analysis: a case study of anti-corruption networks

ABSTRACT Research on diffusion and transfer increasingly relies on the concept of policy networks, but often in inductive, descriptive, and anecdotal ways. This article proposes a more robust method for the comparative analysis of policy networks, a method we term ‘event-focused network analysis’ (EFNA). The method assumes that networks are most clearly revealed in ‘events’ – conferences, meetings, workshops, etc. Databases of participants at these events provide the foundation for social network analysis of the networks of which they are part. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has hundreds of such events annually that are connected to a myriad of policy issues, thus allowing cross-sectoral network comparisons. The article begins with a review and critique of current approaches to network analysis, explains the EFNA approach, and then applies it to anti-corruption networks centred in the OECD. The case study shows the promise of the method, particularly in being able to trace a wider range of actors than is typical, taking us beyond the ‘usual suspects’ in conventional transfer studies.

The use of the concept of policy networks in the study of relations between national parliaments and the EU institutions

The article examines the relationship between national parliaments and the EU institutions from the perspective of the concept of policy networks. We verified the hypothesis that the varied and complex forms of cooperation between national parliaments and EU institutions developed through good practices and self-organisation had positive impact on the political processes of the EU. The studied policy networks were analysed for: determining the limits, the level of integration and openness, the nature of existing relationships, the causes of network creation and ultimately the impact of these networks on the political processes taking place in the EU.

Policy networks in energy transitions: The cases of carbon capture and storage and offshore wind in Norway

This paper employs the concept of policy networks to study how interest groups and actors compete over the influence of energy and climate policy. It is argued that the creation of learning arenas is critical for the development of immature technologies. The paper then analyses two large efforts to secure state funding of large-scale demonstration projects for offshore wind and carbon capture and storage technology in Norway. The paper describes a range of similarities between these two technologies in terms of scale, maturity, and costs, and in the way they represent possible solutions to the problem of climate change. However, the paper also describes enormous differences in government support towards full-scale demonstration. These differences are then explained in the analysis, which shows how different network structures facilitate different levels of access to the policy making process. The paper provides insights into how the interplay between state interests, political party strategies and the interests of firms influences the potency for solutions tied to climate and energy problems. The paper therefore contributes to the discourse on the role of politics in sustainability transitions.

Heterarchy in a System of State and Society Cooperation on the Example of Social Policy in Moscow: Introduction of the Concept and Methodological Aspects

This paper aims at reviewing the connection between the network structures and hierarchies in contemporary public policy of the Russian Federation, based on the theoretical and practical experience of the policy network concept. It’s based on the hypothesis that the current political system of Russia has a number of issues that are not possible to solve with the help of only social networking, or only administrative resource. The situation indicates the need a hybrid strategy of cooperation between state and civil society and the introduction of the heterarchy concept as a form of governance and political decision-making. The article examines the interactions between the network of foster families and community councils with the Department of Social Protection of Moscow as an example of heterarchy.

Ten Years of Adult Literacy Policy and Practice in Canada: Literacy Policy Tensions and Workarounds

The years 2003 – 2013 marked a coming-of-age in the adult literacy field in Canada, as it reconciled the politics of international literacy surveys and their accountability regimes with the actualities of literacy work among people caught in the nets of neoliberal economics. The concepts of policy networks, powerful literacies and workarounds are used to capture how educators attempt to escape or repair the effects of standardized accountability regimes to create new networks of adult literacy practice that reflect local learning needs and interests. The nexus of this struggle suggests consequences for the work of all educators within an emerging ‘new precariat’ and downgrading of public education spaces.

Transport Infrastructure and Economic Development: An Organizational Analysis

In this work we make use of the concept of policy networks to introduce the main consequences underlying the building and establishing of a transport infrastructure for enhancing mobility. Our interest is connected with the vast domain of inter-organizational relations for transport systems: settings in which many key players, both public and private, cooperate to implement socially relevant public policy. Under this respect, policy networks may be interpreted as an analytical tool for examining, in transport settings, the relations between organizations, by taking into account the role played by private and public actors and the formal as well as informal relationships between them. This paper unfolds as follows. In par. 2 we depart by pointing out the relevance of the policy networks concept to study transportation infrastructures. Interpreting transport infrastructures as policy networks subsequently recalls a few issues that are covered in the following paragraphs. In particular, transportation infrastructures bring about both economic impacts (par. 3) and logistic advantages in terms of peripheralness/accessibility of a given area (par. 4). Finally, we look at the wider context of transportation infrastructure to derive a notion of organizing mobility as a more inclusive concept of policy network exploring how organizing mobility can represent an infrastructure for development.

HIV/AIDS and Sexual Minorities in Mexico: A Globalized Struggle for the Protection of Human Rights

The fight against HIV/AIDS is an example of a global struggle for the promotion of sexual health and the protection of human rights for all, including sexual minorities. It represents a challenge for the understanding of its impact on political, social, and economic processes. My central goal in this piece is twofold. First, I underline the importance of a political and human rights perspective to the analysis of the global response to the pandemic, and I introduce the concept of policy networks for a better understanding of these dynamics. Second, I argue that, in the case of Mexico, the constitution of HIV/AIDS policy networks, which incorporate civil society and state actors, such as sexual minority activists and public officials, and their actions—both domestic and international—have resulted in a more inclusive HIV/AIDS policy-making process. However, serious human rights violations of HIV/AIDS patients and sexual minorities still remain.

The Performance of Policy Networks: The Relation between Network Structure and Network Performance

The importance of policy networks has long been emphasized within the field of policy analysis. However, few attempts have been made to investigate the explanatory power of policy networks using the tools and theoretical concepts provided by social network analysis (SNA). This paper aims to address this need by determining if a relationship exists between the structural features of policy networks, their organizing capacities, and their performance. A comparative case study of four networks within the higher education policy sector confirms the assumption related to the existence of such a relation. It is proposed that an efficient and innovative policy network consists of a heterogeneous set of actors that are centrally and densely integrated. Furthermore, while the level of network heterogeneity is positively related to the function of resource mobilization in the process of policymaking, the level of centralized integration promotes the function of prioritizing. These findings are believed to contribute to our understanding of policymaking in contemporary society. The current paper indicates that a significant explanatory power exists in the concept of policy networks and that SNA is one way of advancing its possibilities.

Understanding Governance: Ten Years On

The paper reassesses the argument in Understanding Governance (1997). The first section summarizes where we are now in the study of governance, reviewing briefly the key concepts of policy networks, governance, core executive, hollowing out the state and the differentiated polity. The second section engages with my critics with the aim of opening new directions of research. I concentrate on the key issues of: the context of policy networks, explaining change and the role of ideas, the decline of the state, rescuing the core executive, and steering networks. Under each heading, I sketch a decentred answer to the question of where we go from here. I argue the analysis of governance should focus on beliefs, practices, traditions and dilemmas.

Governance and the management of networks in the public sector

This essay utilizes policy network analysis to examine UK drugs policy within the wider context of the government's approach to joined-up governance. While confronting the definitional problems and limitations associated with the policy network concept, it is assumed that multiple agencies work towards pre-determined policy objectives. In particular, Atkinson and Coleman (1992) challenge three aspects of policy network analysis; the macro-political context, the international dimension of many policy domains, and the dynamics of political change. These aspects are addressed through the case of drug policy in the United Kingdom in general, and the decision to reclassify cannabis in particular. In addition, it is suggested that the analysis of networks requires a systemic approach to understanding how the duality of power and knowledge determines the dynamics of networks and their impact on institutional change. This includes an assessment of the consequences of the managerialist discourse surrounding changes to drug policy.

Local Partnerships in the United Kingdom for the New Opportunities for PE and Sport Programme: A Policy Network Analysis

This paper examines local partnerships involved in the New Opportunities for PE and Sport programme, a national programme funding improvements in PE and sport facilities in the United Kingdom. Policy network frameworks, developed by Marsh & Rhodes (1992) and Marsh & Smith (2000), were used to analyse the form of partnerships and their associated policy processes. In doing so, the paper attempts to both demonstrate the utility of the concept of policy networks in analysing partnerships and further understanding of the effect of partnerships on policy development. Empirically, three types of partnership were identified in the ten local authority cases that comprised this study. Each type of partnership enacted a specific type of policy process and the resultant policy outcomes reflected these different processes. The resulting analysis examines the relationships between policy and factors internal and external to the partnerships examined. In turn, suggestions are made for future development of the policy network concept.

Local air quality management as a policy cycle in the cities of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, Australia

In the air policy frameworks of the Australian Commonwealth and New South Wales (NSW) Governments, responsibility for the major air pollution sources and assessment of regional air quality lies beyond the direct mandate for local government. However, local government is responsible for a wide range of smaller sources. By contrasting the responses to air pollution by the local councils in the cities of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, this paper contributes to the understanding of local air quality management in NSW. The paper builds on the concept that air quality management requires a basic scientific and decision-making framework. First, we discuss air quality management as a policy cycle and introduce the concept of policy networks to illustrate their role in formulating local environmental policy. Second, we compare and contrast the aspirations, capacities and achievements of the two local councils in relation to air quality management from 1995 to 2005. Third, we examine the contribution to the policy cycle of new tools that use computer-based geographic information systems (GIS), namely, the air emissions inventory and air quality modelling (using The Air Pollution Model (TAPM)). Together, these tools offer advances in the knowledge of local air pollution science and a technological capacity to predict the impact of management options, heralding a paradigmatic change in local air policy making in NSW.

Three Lenses of Analysis for the Study of Tourism Public Policy: A Case from Northern Australia

The main emphasis of this paper is directed to the interplay of three conceptual perspectives to the study of tourism public policy. To understand the tourism policy process in general, from demands via the policy-making system to outputs and feedback, Easton’s model (1965) of the political system is employed as a basic conceptual framework. With the adoption of a temporal dimension, which takes into account the dynamics of the tourism policy process, the policy cycle model is then applied as a heuristic structural frame. As an additional, third level of analysis the policy network concept is then discussed. This approach identifies the various and multiple ways in which the actors participate in tourism policy-making as well as the complexity of their interactions. It is argued that the interplay of these three models provides an adequate methodological framework, particularly process-oriented in focus, to better understand the complexity of tourism policy-making. The case study of the specific geographical and social formation of the Northern Territory of Australia illustrates the usefulness of this analytical approach.

Local policy networks in France and Britain: Policy co‐ordination in fragmented political Sub‐Systems

This article applies the concept of local policy networks to understand the emergence of local governance in France and Britain. Although the concept of policy networks needs to be used with caution, it is a useful way of mapping out the complex interdependencies of local decision makers in both states. Traditional approaches to central‐local politics in Britain and France emphasised the contrasts between the two countries, and while these continue, Cole and John argue that recent institutional and policy changes suggest a convergence to a more complex institutional environment and more decision making based on networks between organisations.

Protecting the protected: The Greek agricultural policy network∗

Abstract This article employs the concept of policy networks to examine a major area of policy‐making and provide fresh insights into Greek politics. It questions the extent to which policy‐making in the Greek agricultural sector can be usefully typified as pluralist or corporatist. The authors conclude that the weakness and vulnerability of the state to the demands of the co‐operatives, in particular, suggests that the sectoral corporatist model understates the level of mutual dependency. The rhetoric of clientelism disguises the reality that the government no longer occupies a clearly superior position in the network but shares policy‐making powers with other societal institutions.

Policy Networks and State-Farmer Relations in Northern Ireland, 1921–72

An extensive literature already applies a variety of theories of interest intermediation to case studies of British agricultural policy. This paper applies the concept of policy network to one particular territorial aspect of agricultural policy – the relationship between the state and the farmer in Northern Ireland during the period of devolution between 1921–72. The conclusion is that although theories of policy community and meso-corporatism have some explanatory value, La Palombara's notion of parentela is necessary to any understanding of the essential nature of the farmer-state relationship in Northern Ireland.

OPEN SYSTEMS AND CLOSED NETWORKS: POLICY NETWORKS AND THE EMERGENCE OF OPEN SYSTEMS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

New information and communications technologies (ICTS) continue to consume an increasing proportion of local government expenditure. Contemporary explanations of why and how these technologies are introduced into organizations, however, are limited to accounts of strategic decisions taken by individual organizations. This article offers a new understanding of why and how ICTS are introduced into organizations by developing the emergent concept of policy networks to analyse the adoption of open systems in local government. In developing this analysis, the article advances the policy networks concept by arguing for a range of sectoral sub‐networks which have emerged around the broader ICT network. Following from this, it identifies the principal actors in the local government ICT network, and their relationships. Finally, it presents a case study of the network in action, in the form of an analysis of the adoption of open systems technology in one metropolitan borough council.

New directions in the study of policy networks

Abstract. This paper is the product of a collaborative, comparative study of nine policy areas in British Government. It does not describe these several policy areas but summarises recent theoretical discussions in Britain of the concept of policy networks; provides a typology which encompasses the variety identified in the individual, detailed case studies; discusses a set of key problems in the analysis of networks; and identifies some directions for future research.