MUDDLING THROUGH THE MIDDLE GROUND - THEORETICAL CONCERNS IN INTERSECTORAL COLLABORATION AND HEALTH PROMOTION

This paper considers the conceptual basis of intersectoral collaboration (ISC) in health promotion. It summarises concepts and perspectives within literature loosely labelled as 'interorganisational relations'. These are applied to health promotion, specifically the development of healthy public policy at local level. While the importance of collaboration and working together at practitioner level is acknowledged, the main emphasis is on strategic level collaboration and policy coordination. The aim is to consolidate understanding of the concept, its features and its 'determinants'. Ways in which collaboration might be fostered are considered.