Document Analysis of Network Topography and Network Programmes

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to illuminate and discuss the potentials and limitations of the use of documents in the analysis of governance networks. Our discussions and arguments are based on documents pertaining to the European Employment Strategy (EES) and the National Action Plans (NAPs) in the period 1998–2004. In broad terms, our argument is that documents are highly useful in illuminating the historical formation, continuities and shifts in the norms and rationalities informing governance networks. In contrast, the documents are less useful, or at least less efficient, in illuminating the actual interactions within networks and network participants.