ABSTRACT
Although collaboration has been much written about it, has received little in the way of critical analysis. This chapter explores the cultural performance of collaboration expressed through social efficacy within three UK-based case studies. We conclude that examining collaboration in terms of social efficacy reveals a great deal about why policymakers and practitioners persist with this idea and practice in the face of a lack of evidence of effectiveness and significant struggles to make collaboration work on the ground. This chapter will be of interest to those seeking to provide a deeper critical exploration of the concept of collaborative working.
