Complexity, Governance, and Networks aims to contribute to the philosophical, theoretical, methodological, and empirical developments in complexity, governance, and network studies in public administration, public policy, politics, and non-governmental organizations. The journal publishes primarily theoretical essays and original research papers. The editors welcome theoretical essays that advance
thinking in definitional and conceptual issues in studying nonlinearity, emergence, self-organization, and (co-)evolution in complex political, policy, and governance systems and networks, as well as other related topics. Also welcome are empirical studies that employ quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. Empirical manuscripts may include applications of agent-based (multi-agent) simulations, systems dynamics modeling, social network analyses, qualitative case studies (e.g., single and comparative case studies), content analyses, and mixed methods (e.g. qualitative comparative analysis, process tracing). Essays on the methodological issues in any of these applications will also be considered for publication in the journal. Literature-review papers will also be considered, as long as they are high-quality and original and contribute the scholarly learning and discourse in the focus areas of the journal. The editors also welcome manuscripts that represent other theoretical perspectives and/or methodologies (e.g., rational choice theory, game theory, advocacy coalition framework, Marxist theory, critical theory, etc.), as long as they contribute to the theoretical and/or empirical advancement in the primary focus areas of the journal. The editors also aim to establish a bridge between the worlds of academics and practitioners. Practitioner-oriented and manuscripts that include case studies on complex behaviors and network interactions in public service settings and reflective essays on the practical values of complexity, governance, and network theories and methodologies will be considered for publication in the journal.
