Journal Articles

DEMOCRATIC SUBJECTIVITIES IN NETWORK GOVERNANCE : A Q METHODOLOGY STUDY OF ENGLISH AND DUTCH PUBLIC MANAGERS

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Network forms of governance enable public managers to exercise considerable agency in shaping the institutions through which government interacts with citizens, civil society organizations and business. These network institutions configure democratic legitimacy and accountability in various ways, but little is known about how managers-as-designers think about democracy. This Q methodology study identifies five democratic subjectivities. Pragmatists have little concern for democracy. Realists regard networks as one of a number of arenas in which the politics is played out. Adaptors identify the potential for greater inclusiveness. Progressive Optimists think that network governance will fill the gap between the theory and practice of representative democracy, while Radical Optimists focus on its potential for enabling direct dialogue. Institutional design alone is not sufficient to enhance the democratic possibilities of governance networks. The choice of public manager is also salient. Adaptors or, preferably, Progressive or Radical Optimists should be selected for this role.

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Detail Information

Series Title

Public Administration

Call Number

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Publisher

Hoboken, United States : Wiley-Blackwell., 2011

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

00333298

Classification

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Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

Volume 89, Issue 4, December 2011, pages 1253–1273

Subject(s)

Democracy
DEMOCRATIC SUBJECTIVITIES IN NETWORK GOVERNANCE

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