Policy Networks
Governance in the United States has experienced a remarkable shift, one where public administration is increasingly managed through policy networks, partnerships, collaboration, and third party contracts. This has been termed “governance by network.” Many now argue that hierarchal government can no longer be effective, and that the creation and management of today’s public policies need to reflect these changes. The overarching goal of this research, begun in 2006 by a graduate intern, Stephen Searle, is to articulate the strengths and challenges of the “governance by network” model.
Through four illustrations of networked approaches to public policy in a diverse array of fields, this research explores some of the ways in which policy networks can be facilitated. The research takes a quick look at four different examples of governance by network in Vermont and the Northern Forest Region: the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative; Vermont’s Clean and Clear Action Plan; the Vermont Agency of Human Services’ Regional Community Partnerships; and, the Northern Forest Center. Each represents a well-established, complex policy network. Research and work in this field is continuing at the Center and at its partner in this exploration, the Conservation Study Institute of the National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/csi/