Governance networks, democratic anchorage, and the impact of national political context

Advances in understanding of the democratic anchorage of governance networks require carefully designed and contextually grounded empirical analysis, in which pertinent features of the context are carried through into theory building. The literature on governance networks tends to use insights from empirical research as though they had universal applicability. Evidence from studies in Denmark, England, the Netherlands and Switzerland are used to develop a clearer understanding of differences and similarities in the democratic milieu within which governance networks are located. Four conjectures about the relationship between governance networks and representative democracy are used heuristically to review the evidence. Conclusions are drawn about the implications for the next stage of theory building in this field.