The dark side of governance networks: how private actors use discursive strategies in global sport governance

Arnout Geeraert

Public Management Review, 2025, vol. 27, issue 12, 3150-3176

Abstract: This article addresses the often-neglected political dimension of interactive processes in governance networks. It identifies six discursive strategies private actors use to manipulate the beliefs of public meta-governors: promoting favourable problem definitions and policy solutions, layering, conversion, ceremonialism, and dualism. The article argues that typical features of governance networks facilitate the use of these strategies. The empirical analysis illustrates how sport governing bodies have employed these tactics to maximize their autonomy in issues such as doping, match-fixing, and corruption by officials. It suggests that network governance may inherently favour opportunistic private actors, challenging existing assumptions towards establishing trust and consensus.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/14719037.2025.2456034 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:rpxmxx:v:27:y:2025:i:12:p:3150-3176

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/rpxm20

DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2025.2456034

Access Statistics for this article

Public Management Review is currently edited by Stephen P. Osborne

More articles in Public Management Review from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().