ABSTRACT
The comparative methodology provided by policy network analysis facilitates both a generalized comparison of alternative cross-national policy processes as well as a specific evaluation of the level of integration in policy networks. In the terms outlined at the start of this study, this enables an assessment of both horizontal and vertical dimensions of policy change. Regarding horizontal aspects of policy change, this comparison enables us to evaluate what the alleged trend towards ‘new governance’ involves in each state and the extent to which governments have lost their ‘control capacity’ over the provision of regional policy. Regarding the vertical aspects of policy change, the application of Lindberg’s integration hypotheses as positive integration indicators for policy networks enables us to relate the differences found between cross-national networks to different levels of European integration. Both of these issues are considered here. Finally, the connections between different network forms, policy processes and levels of integration are also considered through a comparative evaluation of the alternative policy network configurations.
