Which of the following is listed as an actor by Braithwaite and Drahos in their framework?

• A. Governments
• B. Corporations
• C. Knowledge based communities
• D. Mass publics

Answer: (C)

Regulation is seen as the product of multiple actors, not just the state. Knowledge-based communities—the networks of scientists, professional bodies, think tanks, and research institutions—are listed because they supply the evidence, standards, and legitimacy that shape regulatory choices. Their technical expertise helps determine what is feasible, desirable, and enforceable, and they can influence rule design and compliance through credible information and normative claims. While governments set formal rules, corporations participate through interest and influence, and mass publics can drive political pressure, knowledge-based communities provide the grounding in knowledge and standards that often guides and constrains regulatory outcomes. That combination is why this group is identified as a distinct actor in Braithwaite and Drahos’s framework.