Un-Dutching the Delta Approach: network management and policy translation for effective policy transfer

Journal Article (2021)
Author(s)

E. Minkman (TU Delft - Organisation & Governance)

M. W.(Arwin) van Buuren ( Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam)

V. J.J.M.(Victor) Bekkers ( Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam)

Research Group
Organisation & Governance
Copyright
© 2021 E. Minkman, M. W.(Arwin) van Buuren, V. J.J.M.(Victor) Bekkers
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.4000/irpp.2174
More Info
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Publication Year
2021
Language
English
Copyright
© 2021 E. Minkman, M. W.(Arwin) van Buuren, V. J.J.M.(Victor) Bekkers
Research Group
Organisation & Governance
Issue number
2
Volume number
3
Pages (from-to)
172-193
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Abstract

This study identifies network management as a facilitator of effective policy transfer. We reconstruct the unconventional collaboration between Dutch private-sector experts and national governments of Vietnam and Bangladesh to develop multi-sectoral, long-term strategies (‘delta plans’). We identify the network management strategies used by the Dutch actors and use these to explain how problem perceptions of state and non-state actors were aligned in order to define solution pathways. Based on these cases, we argue that network analysis is a tool for policy transfer studies. This paper further concludes that the ‘soft’ nature of the transferred policy (in the form of principles, norms and ideas) increased its transferability, as being ambiguous and abstract left room for interpretation and translation to the local context.