1. POAD8014: PUBLIC POLICY
POLICY NETWORKS
Lionel Orchard

2. Policy Networks - Definition
‘a set of relatively stable relationships which are of non-hierarchical and independent nature linking a variety of actors, who share common interests with regard to a policy and who exchange resources to pursue these shared interests … to achieve common goals’ (Borzel 1998, 254)

3. Two Schools on Networks
British/American – the interest intermediation school – as a model of state-society relations in a given issue area
We can observe or map the actors involved in an issue area
German – the governance school – an alternative form of governance to hierarchy and the market
Policy networks provide a specific form of governance for non-hierarchical coordination

4. Rhodes’ Typology
High integration
Low integration

5. How important?
New approach to thinking about policy formulation in a complex world
Acknowledges the wider variety of resources and actors in shaping policy
An alternative perspective on policy development going beyond hierarchical explanations
Helps point to the role of ideas in policy debate and development
Valuable in understanding agenda setting