We live in an era of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. Many societal challenges are wicked: not only are they technically difficult, they are also contested at the normative level, with no clear agreement on values or goals. Such issues cut across organizational, sectoral and jurisdictional boundaries — and cannot be solved by any single actor.

Yet existing governance structures are often ill-equipped to deal with this complexity. As a result, governments, businesses, civil society actors and citizens are experimenting with new hybrid forms of governance. These include citizens’ initiatives, social enterprises, and other forms of social innovation — as well as governments that introduce coproduction or market mechanisms to improve public services.

Hybrid governance arrangements transcend the boundaries of state, market and civil society. They combine distinct and often contradictory coordination logics — such as hierarchy, competition, and collaboration — in new ways. Ideally, hybridity enables synergy and innovation by blending the strengths of each governance mode. But it also introduces tensions: between values, cultures, and accountability regimes.

My research explores what hybridity means in practice. I study how governance arrangements and organizations become hybrid, how they function, and what effects they produce — both positive and negative — for organizations, citizens, political principals, and society at large.

→ See below for a selection of my publications on hybridity and hybrid governance.

Publications on Hybridity (selection)

Karré, P. M. (2025). The challenges of hybridity for policy making: Insights from the case of social enterprise policy in the Netherlands. In J. Vakkuri, J.-E. Johanson, R. M. Pinheiro, & T. Erkkilä (Eds.), Public policies for hybrid governance (pp. 59–77). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035311637.00015

Karré, P.M. (2024). Social enterprises and public organizations: allies of adversaries? Introduction to special issue, International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 37 No. 3, pp. 305-316. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-04-2024-356

Karré, P.M. & Van Meerkerk, I. (2023). The Challenge of Navigating the Double Hybridity in the Relationship between Community Enterprises and Municipalities, Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 10.1080/19420676.2023.2263772

Fenger, H.J.M, Karré, P.M. & Blok, S.N. (2023). Conceptualizing new forms of volunteering in urban governance, Urban Governance, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ugj.2023.09.002.

Karré, P.M. (2022). The Thumbprint of a Hybrid Organization—A Multidimensional Model for Analysing Public/Private Hybrid Organizations. Public Organiz Rev (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-021-00598-2

Karré, P. M. (2021). Hybridity as a Result of the Marketization of Public Services: Catalyst or Obstruction for Sustainable Development? Sustainability, 13(1), 252. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su13010252

Karré, P.M. (2021). Value creation by two types of hybrid organisations: opportunities and risks. In J. Vakkuri & J.-E. Johanson (eds.) Hybrid Governance, Organisations and Society. Value Creation Perspectives (pp. 202-218). London & New York: Routledge.

Brandsen T. & P.M. Karré (2021) Hybridization and Hybridity. In: R.A. List., H.K. Anheier & S. Toepler (eds) International Encyclopedia of Civil Society. Springer, Cham.

Koppenjan, J., K. Termeer & P.M. Karré (2021). Comparing New Hybrid Governance Arrangements: Better and Smarter? In J.S. Ott & L.A. Dicke (eds.). The Nature of the Nonprofit Sector (pp. 480-490). New York and London, Routledge.

Karré, P.M. (2020) Conceptualizing hybrid organizations: a public administration approach. In: Billis, D. & Rochester, C. (eds.), International Handbook of Hybrid Organizations, Cheltenham Glos: Edward Elgar, pp. 31-47.

Koppenjan, J.F.M., P.M. Karré & C.J.A.M. Termeer (eds.) (2019). New governance arrangements. Towards hybrid and smarter governance?, The Hague: Eleven International Publishing.

Karré, P.M. (2013). Hybrid organizations in waste management: Public and private organizations in a deregulated market. In: Zapata M.J. & M. Hall (eds.), Constructions and narratives of waste: An interdisciplinary approach. Bristol: Policy Press.

Brandsen, T. & P.M. Karré (2013). The inexorable rise of hybrid organizations in the Netherlands. In: Zimmer, A. (ed.), Civil societies compared: Germany and the Netherlands. Nomos: Baden-Baden.

Karré, P.M. (2012) Innovatieve organisatievormen in de publieke dienstverlening. Van compact en klein naar meervoudig en hybride. Bestuurskunde. 21(2), pp. 71-76.

Karré, P.M. (2011). Heads and Tails: both sides of the coin; An analysis of hybrid organizations in the Dutch waste management sector. The Hague: Eleven International Publishing.

Brandsen, T. & P.M. Karré (2011). Hybrid organizations – No cause for concern. International Journal of Public Administration. 34(13), 827-836.

Karré, P.M. (2011). Marktwerking in de publieke dienstverlening. Kansen en risico’s van hybride organisaties. Socialisme & Democratie, 73(7/8), 159-164.

Karré, P.M. (2011). Hybriditeit in de gemeentelijke afvalverwerking: resultaten uit een meervoudige case study. Bestuurswetenschappen, 4, 52-68.

Dicke,W., M.A. van der Steen, P.M. Karré & M.J.W. van Twist (2011). Private Investeringen in het Publieke Domein, Openbaar Bestuur, 18-22.

Karré, P.M. & C.J. van Montfort (2011). Botsende waarden in de corporatiesector. Bestuurskunde, 20(2), 44-52.

Brandsen, T. & P.M. Karré (2010). Hybride organisaties – Een overzicht van het onderzoek in de Nederlandse bestuurskunde. Bestuurswetenschappen, 2, 71-85.

Karré, P.M. & R.J. in ’t Veld (2007). Spanningen in organisaties met publieke en private relaties – Een verdiepende case study. M&O, 61(3-4), 189-202.

Karré, P.M. & R.J. in ’t Veld (2007). Spanningen in organisaties met publieke en private relaties – Een verdiepende case study. In: J.J. Boonstra (ed.). Ondernemen in allianties en netwerken – Een multidisciplinair perspectief (pp. 197-210). Deventer: Kluwer.

Karré, P.M. (2006). Caleidoscooporganisaties – Culturele aspecten van hybriditeit in organisaties. In: T. Brandsen, W. van de Donk & P. Kenis (eds.). Meervoudig Bestuur – Publieke dienstverlening door hybride organisaties (pp. 55-72). Den Haag: Lemma.

Karré, P.M. (2005). Caleidoscooporganisaties – Culturele aspecten van hybriditeit in organisaties. Bestuurskunde, 14(3), 21-26.