Networking strategies for coordinating interdependent policy issues: A motif approach

Abstract Complex societal challenges, such as climate change and environmental degradation, are encumbered by numerous interdependences across different policy issues. Coordination of interdependent policy issues is thus critical. However, coordination challenges persist, partly because coordinating interdependent policy issues among actors often involves high costs. While network governance literature often advocates for management strategies that steer the coordination between actors, little is known about what specific strategies can stimulate the emergence of collaborative relationships suitable for coordination of interdependent policy issues. To address this gap, we develop a typology of four different strategies operationalized as network motifs. We present a simulation modeling approach using Exponential Random Graph Models to evaluate if the identified network strategies facilitate actor coordination of interdependent policy issues and demonstrate the method on empirical data from water governance in Sweden. Results show that coordination of interdependent policy issues is enhanced by shared responsibilities, efforts to broaden expertise, and consideration of issue interdependencies in the search for collaborators. Results show less support for effective coordination of interdependent policy issues through a network manager. Taken together, the paper contributes both theoretical and methodological developments relevant for evaluating progress on coordination of interdependent policy issues and improving network interventions.