Purposive Social Change and Interorganizational Networks: The Case of Three Prepaid Health Programs

An important perspective emerging in the areas of community & organizational analysis is the political economy approach to interorganizational relations. This approach treats organizations as seekers of basic political & economic resources found in their environments. This approach has special implications for persons interested in the study &/or implementation of programs of change, because it sensitizes the observer to the problems of political & economic conflict in interorganizational relations. The perspective also offers useful insights into the development of intervention strategies that minimize the conflicts often associated with social change. In order to demonstrate the usefulness of this approach to social change & interorganizational relations, three attempts at creating prepaid health care programs in Ru areas of the Midwest are considered. HA.