ABSTRACT
Evaluating governance networks is challenging in light of the variety in goals, the lack of measurable goals, the lack of consensus among actors, and the different standards that might be used to assess whether governance networks and governance network processes are successful or not. Although these difficulties are hard to overcome, this chapter provides several criteria that can be used to assess the performance of, and processes in, governance networks. First, ex post satisficing is an important criterion. If the network succeeds in aligning goals, or creating win–win solutions, all actors might be satisfied with the network’s outcomes. Second, learning can be considered a relevant criterion to evaluate governance networks. This includes cognitive learning (i.e., substantive enrichment), strategic learning (i.e., on the quality of the process), and institutional learning (e.g., the development of relationships and institutional rules). Together, these criteria allow for nuanced evaluation, showing that networks are more successful in some aspects and less in others.
