Converging Actors and Policies: Mediocre by Nature? Some Cumulative Findings

This article provides a cumulative overview of all cases presented in this special issue. In particular, we aim at exploring different convergence types and their depth as well as their consequences for regime efficacy. A cross-case analysis reveals reoccurring patterns: On average convergence is more often conceptual, technical, and formal than political or behavioral. It is also more often cosmetic or partial than extensive or full and in most cases impacts on efficacy only moderately. These mediocre results might best be explained by a combination of rational and social purpose prediction as proposed in the introductory chapter. While actors are aiming to extend their cooperation among one another, they at the same time aim at retaining their institutional autonomy, leading to processes of mediocre convergence.