Virtual policy networks: the internet as a model of contemporary governance?

The public policy literature has recently emphasized the importance of "networks" in the policy process and has also argued that the new dynamics of policy networks are redefining contemporary forms of governance. Surprisingly, this literature has largely ignored the Internet as an exemplar of these new network forms and new governance practices. This paper tries to bring these two areas of research together. It reviews the policy literature to establish the point that the network concept is increasingly central to contemporary discussions. It then provides an overview of what various authors have identified as the key characteristics of the Internet and the networks that operate through it. The paper concludes with several suggestions for further research on virtual policy networks.