Policy Networks

Networks can be understood as stabilizing structures for communication and interaction between a variety of actors. They are found not only in public policy arenas, but also in other sectors, such as business or research. Extending beyond formally institutionalized decision-makers, networks include many interconnected actors, each of which draws on particular resources to influence the way public and private policies are formulated and implemented. This book examines actor networks, analyzing how they are structured and how they work. A wide variety of theoretical and empirical approaches to network analysis are provided by the authors, who use empirical case studies to demonstrate innovative methods of structural analysis.