TY - JOUR

T1 - Learning in European Administrative Networks

T2 - A process to all or only to a few?

AU - Campera de Rezende Soares, Ana C

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press.

PY - 2024/2/14

Y1 - 2024/2/14

N2 - Through the pooling and exchange of resources such as expertise and knowledge between network participants, European Administrative Networks (EANs) are expected to play a significant role in enhancing policy learning. Yet, scarce empirical evidence has been presented concerning the learning process taking place within EANs. This paper addresses this gap through the analysis of the Network of the Heads of European Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA Network). Based on a unique survey dataset, social network analysis and exponential random graph models are used to trace the interaction patterns within the network and test which factors shape them. The analysis highlights the relevance of national political factors - i.e. the preferences of national governments and ministries - in shaping the learning processes taking place in the EPA Network. While the network is an important venue for disseminating knowledge between directly and indirectly connected actors, learning processes are mainly limited to like-minded peers.

AB - Through the pooling and exchange of resources such as expertise and knowledge between network participants, European Administrative Networks (EANs) are expected to play a significant role in enhancing policy learning. Yet, scarce empirical evidence has been presented concerning the learning process taking place within EANs. This paper addresses this gap through the analysis of the Network of the Heads of European Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA Network). Based on a unique survey dataset, social network analysis and exponential random graph models are used to trace the interaction patterns within the network and test which factors shape them. The analysis highlights the relevance of national political factors - i.e. the preferences of national governments and ministries - in shaping the learning processes taking place in the EPA Network. While the network is an important venue for disseminating knowledge between directly and indirectly connected actors, learning processes are mainly limited to like-minded peers.

KW - environmental policy

KW - EU governance

KW - European Administrative Networks

KW - Keywords:

KW - network learning

KW - policy learning

U2 - 10.1017/S0143814X24000011

DO - 10.1017/S0143814X24000011

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85187280011

JO - Journal of Public Policy

JF - Journal of Public Policy

SN - 0143-814X

ER -