The term multi-level governance (MLG) has emerged from its origins in EU studies in the early 1990s to become a commonly used description of politics and policy-making in a range of settings. This collection discusses seminal papers covering three waves of MLG scholarship; the first wave focuses largely on debates around Europe and the regions; the second on the nature and impact of MLG in wider settings (local, national and global) and the implications for accountability; and the third discusses MLG of different types and in new terrains (geographical or policy).