doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9299.2011.01974.x COMBINING HIERARCHICAL AND NETWORK STRATEGIES. SUCCESSFUL CHANGES IN DUTCH SOCIAL HOUSING JOS KOFFIJBERG, HANS DE BRUIJN AND HUGO PRIEMUS In the current times of economic turmoil, many sectors are thought to be in need of structural reform or system overhauls, which call for political leadership, decisiveness and vision. These kinds of challenges present governments with a dilemma. On the one hand, there is a call for radical change while, on the other hand, the options available for such radical change are limited by the many interdependencies of a network society. In this article, we analyse three fundamental and structural reforms in Dutch housing. These reforms were all implemented in a world of interdependencies. The strategies applied appear to be a mixture of unilateral, hierarchical strategies and multilateral, network strategies. These hybrid strategies come in three forms: (1) a combination of hierarchical and network strategies; (2) variations/alternations over time between network strategies and hierarchical strategies; and (3) the use of one strategy in the frontstage while the other strategy is being used backstage. Greater understanding of these types of hybrids can help governments in dealing with the tension between interdependencies and the need for change. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The issue: change between hierarchy and network There are only limited options available for governments to bring about changes in society. Any such changes must be achieved in networks of interdependencies, which means that processes of change are often erratic and capricious (see, for example, Mayntz 1993; Rhodes 1997; Frissen 1999, 2002; Koppenjan and Klijn 2004; Teisman et al. 2009). The multiplicity of parties with divergent views and interests and their mutual dependence mean that unilateral, hierarchical strategies are hardly ever effective. In their place, multi- lateral, network strategies are needed, in which interaction, consultation and negotiation are some of the key concepts. In these times of economic turmoil, the question of how a major change occurs in a network context is highly relevant. In many sectors, there is a public demand for structural reforms to be implemented by governments and an assumption that these governments have sufficient power to do so. This raises the intriguing question of whether traditional, unilateral hierarchical intervention can still be meaningful and effective in a network context. The message from the studies referred to earlier is that hierarchical interventions will not be effective in a network context. But does this mean that there is no role for hierarchy at all? That hierarchical intervention will never contribute to effective change in networks? A closer look at processes of major change reveals that hierarchical and network strategies are deployed alongside each other. Is there something we might call a ‘smart’ or ‘network-proof’ hierarchical intervention? Are there effective hybrids – a blend of elements from both approaches? Jos Koffijberg is Head of Research at the Nicis Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands. Hans de Bruijn is Professor of Public Administration and Hugo Priemus is Emeritus Professor of Housing, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands. Public Administration 2011  2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK and 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA.