Moving beyond the Neo-liberal Paradigm in Governmentality Studies - Exploring the Underlying Rationality of Network Governance

Many states, at the national and local level are today encouraging collaborative forms of governance in order to manage complex problems. In this paper I explore the competing rationalities at play in collaborative networks and identify that neo-liberal governmentality, ultimately relying on self-governance, created markets, economic man and distrust, whereas meta-governance appeals to collaborative efforts, cooperation, pooling of resources, a common understanding and trust. The opposing rationality of these two over-arching approaches to public management have great influence on the kind of relationships, organizations and practices that emerge. To the extent that these rationalities are in conflict, they may cause deadlocks, misunderstandings between participants and potential mismanagement. Thus, by exposing the different rationalities at play, we are in a better position to understand the kind of relationships that characterize and constitute interactive governance regimes.