A Social Network Analysis of a Brussels-based NGO Contributing to European Education Governance

This article investigates the networking strategies and influence of Brussels-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) within European education governance. Building on recent research that highlights NGOs’ significant representation in EU institutional processes, we focus on a sector-specific NGO (NGO2), a member of a broader education-focused NGO (NGO1), to explore how internal and external network structures shape its advocacy capacity. Employing a structural interactionist approach to Social Network Analysis, we examine both the internal relations among NGO2’s members and its external collaborations, assessing how these networks enable or constrain its actions and influence at the European level. Our analysis reveals that NGO2’s board members are key, cohesive actors bridging formal and informal governance, unlike NGO1’s board members. NGO1 significantly supports NGO2’s external network coordination, enhancing its collaborative influence. We further reflect on the interplay between NGO2’s and NGO1’s networks, considering how multi-level network governance can reinforce advocacy efforts and policy impact. By comparing the network dynamics of both NGOs, this study contributes to a nuanced understanding of how sector-specific and broader interest groups collaborate and compete within the entangled landscape of European education governance, offering insights into the mechanisms that underpin effective NGO advocacy in multi-level policy environments.