Coalition networks and relational policy analysis

In policy analysis, the totality of actors involved in the policy process and the relations among them has been referred to as a ‘policy network’. Despite is intuitive appeal, the insights generated by the concept have been modest. This contribution elaborates the complementary notion of ‘coalition networks’ as a way of disaggregating the overall configuration into more manageable subunits and thereby gaining increased analytical leverage over output analysis. Particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between policy subsystem and coalition network boundaries.