Governing Networks in the Hollow State: Contracting out, process management or a combination of the two?

The hollow state is characterized by governing through networks. In this article, we explore the nature of the hollow state and trace and illustrate three basic uncertainties in the decision-making process which create complexity: knowledge uncertainty, institutional uncertainty and strategic uncertainty. Next, we elaborate the main characteristics of contracting out and address the issue of whether these fit the nature of the hollow state. Finally, we ask if the role of politicians should change given the characteristics of the hollow state. We conclude with some thoughts on effective management in the hollow state and the role of process management and contracting out.