This paper applies insights from governance and multi-level governance
(MLG) studies to the analysis of Social Partnership in order to: (1) outline
a methodological approach for the study of Social Partnership over time; and
(2) to provide neutral framework for analysis that will facilitate the collection
of empirical evidence that may contribute (either positively or negatively) to
the theorising of Social Partnership as a new form of governance. The
proposed methodology focuses on the extent of policy integration (and/or
disaggregation) between policy interests in the Social Partnership model in
order to ascertain how inclusive Irish Social Partnership is. This is considered
to be important, given the variety of claims made for Social Partnership as an
instrument of direct and participatory democracy