ABSTRACT
This chapter shows some of the most important relations between inter-organisational co-ordination in multi-actor policy networks and intra-organisational communication concerning interest organisations. It discusses communication capabilities of interest organisations to manage the tasks of top-down and bottom-up communication in policy-forming processes within multi-actor policy networks. In general, four key elements of 'network regulation' can be identified: trust, durability, strategic dependency, and institutionalisation. Co-ordination between formally independent corporate actors, at both the national and international level of policy-making is, therefore, becoming increasingly important for problem-solving. The dilemma for civil-society actors in political decision-making is connected with intra-organisational conflicts between social and member responsibility. Representation of the electorate, offering each member the same right and opportunity to get his or her interests represented by delegates within the political system, is one of the most important democratic principles. Direct participation in political decision processes will provide new challenges to the communications capacity of corporate actors from civil society, and interest organisations in particular.
