Analyzing and managing policy processes in complex networks: A theoretical examination of the concept policy network and its problems

In the last 10 years, policy networks have become a popular concept to analyze policy making in multi-actor settings. This article argues that, although stimulating and interesting, the research that has been done in this field can be improved in three ways. The first way to improve the usefulness of the concept network is to pay more attention to the dynamics of policy making In this article, the concept game is used to conceptualize this dynamic character of policy processes. Second, the concept network stresses the context of policy making, but a coherent theoretical framework on how this context is formed and changed is lacking. This article attempts to make some steps toward such a theoretical framework. Central in this framework is the idea of the duality of structure proposed by Giddens and the notion of rules. Finally, the literature on networks could gain relevance by directing more systematic attention on how complex policy processes in these networks can be managed Building on earlier work especially in interorganization theory, some management strategies are discussed.