“Modes of Network Governance”: What Advances Have Been Made So Far?

Resumo

The main objective of this article was to identify the advances in the studies of network governance stemming from the seminal work of Provan and Kenis (2008). Their eight propositions examine the characteristics of each form of governance, outline critical contingency components that may explain governance form effectiveness, discuss the tensions inherent in each form of governance, and explore the evolution of network governance over time. To reach this goal we conducted a meta-study of 224 articles, combining quantitative and qualitative analyses to help establish a map of the recent advances in the field of network governance. The joint analysis showed specific advances in the governance of public networks. In general terms, the studies remain highly fragmented and have yet to reach a greater level of consolidation. Although the proposal put forth by Provan and Kenis (2008) attempts to contribute to a better understanding of the modes, tensions and evolution of governance, it still requires more contributions to establish a theory on network governance. There is scope for further investigation of hybrid modes of governance, the critical contingencies that determine the choice of the most effective mode of governance, and the specific mechanisms used to operationalize each mode of governance.