Metagovernors

Metagovernors is a term used in governance studies to refer to actors and mechanisms that govern the process of governance itself, rather than directly implementing policies. The concept describes a layer of governance concerned with shaping how rules are made, coordinated, monitored, and revised across multiple domains or jurisdictions.

Conceptually, metagovernance aims to steer governance arrangements through design choices, coordination mechanisms, norms, and accountability structures. Metagovernors address questions of who sets goals, which authorities cooperate, what standards apply, and how learning and adaptation occur within and across sectors.

Actors and tools commonly associated with metagovernance include formal institutions such as ministries, regulatory agencies, international organizations, and standard-setting bodies, as well as informal networks, coalitions, and expert communities. They deploy tools like overarching standards, regulatory architectures, coordination platforms, performance benchmarking, and processes for policy review, evaluation, and peer learning.

Contexts in which metagovernors operate include multi-level governance, regulatory design, digital platform governance, and global public goods provision. The aim is to improve legitimacy, coherence, and adaptability of governance systems, while balancing efficiency with accountability and inclusiveness.

Critics argue that metagovernance can risk technocratic overreach, undermine local autonomy, or concentrate influence in places with resources to design and steer governance processes. Proponents counter that well-designed meta-governance can reduce fragmentation and improve consistency across diverse actors and domains.

Related concepts include meta-governance, governance, regulatory design, multi-level governance, and platform governance.