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Dual Networks in European Regional Development Policy[Note 1. We thank the Harvard Program in State and Local ...]
Author(s) -
Ansell Christopher K.,
Parsons Craig A.,
Darden Keith A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
jcms: journal of common market studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.54
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1468-5965
pISSN - 0021-9886
DOI - 10.1111/1468-5965.00066
Subject(s) - dual (grammatical number) , politics , corporate governance , triad (sociology) , european union , political science , dynamics (music) , economic system , multi level governance , network governance , sociology , political economy , regional science , economics , social science , international trade , management , art , pedagogy , literature , law
This article seeks to extend the general analytical powers of the ‘multi‐level governance’ (MLG) model of politics in the European Union. Empirically, we investigate the political dynamics of networks linking supranational, national, and subnational actors in EU regional development policy. Theoretically, we argue that interaction in these networks can be illuminated by an approach based on the structuralist logic of sociological network theory. Structuralist logic emphasizes how particular patterns of relationships—in this case, a supranational–national–subnational triad—shape actors' roles and strategies. Triads create opportunities for constantly shifting alliances, as relations between any two actors are affected by appeals to the third. The resulting pattern of interaction, which we call ‘dual network dynamics’, corresponds well to observed conflict and co‐operation in EU regional development policy.