Hybridization and Urban Governance: Malleability,Modality,or Mind-Set?

Abstract

Editor’s Note: A two-part podcast featuring a discussion by the authors of the Mini-symposium on Urban Governance can be found at http://journals.sagepub.com/page/uar/podcasts

Studies of urban governance have, in recent years, begun to focus increasing attention on the nature of complexity within governance processes, and the challenges that urban governance constructs face when operating in multifaceted policy and political environments. This article explores the question of “hybridization” in urban governance. To do so, we address three questions: Is governance theory malleable enough to incorporate a hybrid focus? Are we witnessing the emergence of new hybrid governance modalities? Or, is it simply time to adopt a new mind-set to focus attention directly on the hybridization processes? This article explores the theory and practice of urban governance and hybridization in North America and Western Europe.