GHEORGHIU-CLIQUES AS STRUCTURES AND PRACTICES - SHAPING BOUNDARIES AND OUTCOMES IN ROMA POLICY NETWORKS-summary

Our iterative, abductive analysis of practices adopted in Roma policy networks in Romania highlighted the importance of cliques in explaining outcomes, as identified by Provan and Sebastian (1998), and the role of ‘entrepreneurs’ in their formation and working. [...] Two types of entrepreneurs become obvious: the ‘old generation’ of entrepreneurs, part of a clique who made things happen by strategically building a team of professionals in key administrative positions and the ‘new generation’ of entrepreneurs, part of an alliance who made things happen by strategically building a team of professionals from NGOs. [...] This paper presents findings from a wider study which addressed the research question “How do network practices and structures shape outcomes in the Roma network implementing social policies in Romania?” Early analysis demonstrated the importance of cliques in explaining network outcomes, and the role of entrepreneurs in cliques and alliances. [...] This paper presents the findings of this second stage of the study, identifying, elaborating and critically reviewing the concept of cliques. [...] The focal question is “What is the role of the Roma cliques in policy implementation in Romania? Our objectives are three-fold: to review the field of cliques and entrepreneurs; propose and evaluate new features of the current understanding of cliques and entrepreneurs; discuss the implications for theory and practice.