Governance Theory

Overview

Governance theory examines how collective decisions are made and implemented through arrangements that extend beyond traditional government. It encompasses multi-level governance, network governance, public-private partnerships, and corporate governance, recognizing that governing increasingly involves non-state actors, markets, and networks.

When to Use

Trigger conditions:

• Analyzing decision-making structures involving multiple stakeholders across sectors
• Evaluating public-private partnerships or collaborative governance arrangements
• Comparing governance models (hierarchical, market, network)

When NOT to use:

• When analyzing individual policy decisions (use policy streams model)
• When studying stakeholder prioritization within a single organization (use stakeholder theory)
• When analyzing public official behavior as self-interested agents (use public choice theory)

Assumptions