Alexander S. Yukhno

Network-centric public governance offers clear advantages, yet its effective adoption requires overcoming a set of constraints and charting practical implementation pathways. Drawing on a comparative analysis of centralized and decentralized governance systems, the article details the benefits of a network-centric approach, including enhanced data generation, storage, distribution and exchange; greater system resilience; improved discovery and use of data; and stronger assurance of data veracity and trust in data sources. It explicates core principles of network-centric governance—decentralization, openness, interactivity, flexibility, technological integration, collaboration, and security—and identifies key implementation challenges such as cyber threats, the digital divide, technological dependency, diffusion (decentralization) of authority, technological risks, and legal risks. The study also outlines the ontological foundations of network-centric public governance, provides a comparative assessment of hierarchical, network, and network-centric governance models, and substantiates the conceptual specificities of network-centric state management. The conclusion argues for the development of hybrid managerial systems that integrate hierarchical and network-centric logics of coordination. Implementing a network-centric approach opens promising avenues for optimizing public governance.