Trustful competitor & distrustful cooperator: Impacts of assessment gaps on trustworthy coopetition in policy network

Abstract

Cooperation and competition often coexist in policy networks, and network actors may simultaneously trust and distrust one another. By considering these two pairs of coexistence, this study explores the patterns and drivers behind two paradoxes: the trustful competitor and the distrustful cooperator. Based on a survey and interviews with nuclear-related public institutions in South Korea, the study highlights two major points. First, the differing ways in which nuclear policy network actors assess situations (i.e. the assessment gap) may lead to trust in competition and also to distrust in cooperation. Second, it is not the mere presence of an assessment gap or bias between network actors that matters in coopetition within the policy network, but rather when, where, and how much such a gap exists, as it can be either beneficial or harmful to coopetition. The study concludes by suggesting vigilant and realistic assessments on self- and environment as the conditions for trustworthy coopetition.