ABSTRACT

The inventions are Global Action Networks (GANs), which build on the academic concepts of international regimes and global public policy networks. GANs represent a huge change from traditional approaches to big international problems. GANs have five key characteristics. Each of the several characteristics can apply to a number of other types of organisation. But collectively the characteristics make GANs a unique invention. GANs' societal learning and change characteristic is particularly important, and different types of GAN can be identified on the basis of their strategies to do this change work. When the societal learning and change work is a core internal activity of the GAN it may be referred to as an internal collaboration GAN. An adaptive GAN reflects the adaptation of the traditional government-led process to create international agreements. The GAN world is closely associated with the world of 'intersectoral collaboration'—joint initiatives involving business, government and civil society.