Abstract: Policy network which works as a governance tool has been recognized by a number of scholars. In the present， the studies on governance approaches have become the mainstream in this field， which have so far undergone three generations including theoretical origin， network management and network quantitative analysis. Despite the fruitful achievements， there still lacks a clear theoretical framework. Using the basic logic of management and gradualism， a preliminary analysis framework of policy network governance has been refined by integrating the western theories from different schools and combining Chinas realities. The framework is composed of three successive links including network description， network management and network examination. Network description is expanded from four dimensions such as actors， relationship between actors， network structure and network rules. Network management and network examination mainly revolve around four aspects including managers， actors， relationship between alliances and network rules.

Key words: policy network governance, network description, network management, network examination