Regional Governance Network, Network Linking Mechanism and Cross-boundary Cooperation Structure:Evidence from Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration

Regional governance network which are multi-actors involved, multi-functions, and multi-levels interacted is becoming an important mechanism to resolve regional public issues and enhance the overall carrying capability. This research applies the social network analysis method, studies the formation mechanism of regional governance network linking relationships, presents an empirical research on governance networks of Yangtze River delta urban agglomeration, and investigates the overall structure, individual position, and cross-boundary cooperation structural logic of regional governance network. The result shows that the governance network with the participation of government, market, and society has emerged in the Yangtze River Delta. The development of actors' relations presents a certain degree of core-periphery structure characteristic. There are several nested cohesive subgroups in the region. The phenomenon of consociate inside Province and interlocking structure cooperation model is obvious, and the core cities have became an important hubs for cross-boundary cooperation.