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govern-theory-building

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Use when building the argument and theoretical contribution of a Governance: An International Journal of Policy, Administration, and Institutions manuscript — to theories of the state, institutions, the policy process, bureaucracy, governance networks, and accountability, with portability across cases and disciplined concept formation. Builds the argument; it does not test it.

When to use

• Stating the core argument, mechanism, and scope conditions
• Defining or refining a concept for comparative use
• Specifying what the theory predicts that rivals do not
• Building portable arguments with explicit scope conditions
• Applying Sartori-style discipline to concept formation
• Identifying contribution types like new mechanisms or reconceptualizations
• Writing the strongest-rival test sentence

When not to use

• Testing the theory
• Running the empirics

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