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Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Central government > General
Written by both historians and political scientists, this new essay collection explores the sources, style, and quality of Lincoln's leadership. Challenging several popular schools of thought, the contributors show that both Lincoln's character and American democratic culture influenced his leadership style. They present him as a principled leader who sought realistic solutions in extenuating circumstances. Building on the democratic principles of the nation's framers, his vision of equality was consistent with the views of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The portrait that emerges is of an active-flexible president whose culture permitted a magnanimous and prudential political style. Lincoln's leadership encouraged the development of responsible democratic rule. The volume places Lincoln's leadership in a historical context and within the political perspective of the influences on him and his impact on others. It also examines his leadership style in terms of the factors organization theorists consider essential for effectiveness. The initial chapters focus on the impact others had on Lincoln and how he transformed their ideas into his own political vision. The work then turns to Lincoln's political style during the Civil War and how he influenced others. The final chapter puts Lincoln's political style in the perspective of world leaders of his age. This volume will be of interest to both historians and political scientists.
Ashley and Hubbard examine ways that tribal/state relations can be improved in the United States. While the long history of tribal-state relations point to the need for better cooperation, they contend that the first and most vital step is a greater understanding of the role that tribal governments play in the federal system. All too often, they assert, tribes are overlooked as viable political entities with unique legal and political status. They begin by providing background information needed for an understanding of the position that tribal governments hold in the broader United States system. Often overlooked is that tribal governments are, by legal standards, equal to or greater than states. The federal/tribal/state order of primacy must be established in order to understand state/tribal intergovernmental relations. Ashley and Hubbard then provide case studies necessary to provide evidence of both positive and negative tribal/state relations. Following a brief background of the tribe in question--where they are located, any pertinent treaty information--they examine instances over time where this particular government has been in conflict or concert with the state in which they currently reside. This lays a foundation for understanding current relations. They then look at the level of cooperation--or lack thereof--between the tribe and the state across key areas of policy making and implementation--air pollution control, water management, and law enforcement. Through this they pinpoint common themes that facilitate or work against cooperative efforts. They conclude by proposing an alternative model for understanding tribal/state relations and offer an alternative approach for both sides when dealing with one another; one designed to improve cooperative handling of issues.
Over the past twenty years, a number of factors, including the attempts to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy, have contributed to a growing concern over the federal government's ability to attract, motivate, and retain a talented and committed workforce. This book is devoted to exploring the question of what it takes to attract and maintain such employees, and does so by focusing on the Presidential Management Intern Program, which brings young people with graduate degrees into federal service. The study takes a close look at the program and its interns from 1978 to 1984, detailing the percentage who have remained in the federal workforce and the reasons that have prompted others to leave the public sector. The work takes into consideration the current employment status of 1978-1984 interns, the factors that explain why interns have stayed in or left federal positions, and the conclusions that can be drawn concerning the recruitment and retention of a highly motivated federal workforce. Following an introductory history and description of the PMI program, Gail Johnson focuses on the particulars of the interns' employment, including the current status of PMIs in government, and when and where those who left went. She next concentrates on the met and unmet expectations that provide a link between what the interns expected, what they experienced, and their decisions to stay in or leave public service. These expectations are also contrasted with those of other federal employees. Finally, conclusions are drawn about the utility of the intern model as a recruitment vehicle, methods to improve the PMI program, and the larger implications for the federal government. This work will be a valuable resource for federal government and public service recruiters, as well as for students of public administration and public personnel. It will also be an important addition to public, college, and university libraries.
Following a long and distinguished public career, John Adams had a turbulent presidency. Sandwiched between the presidencies of Washington and Jefferson, Adams received less attention from contemporary writers. Since the 1960s, however, scholars have begun to turn their attention to John Adams. This bibliography provides access to both primary sources and the secondary literature on John Adams. The volume also includes a short chronology of Adams' life and author and subject indexes.
This authoritative text examines the arrangements at the centre of Whitehall for advising the British prime minister and Cabinet, especially during the Thatcher and Major governments. The traditional coordinating centre has shifted from the Treasury to the Prime Minister's Office and the Chief Whip's Office in Downing Street, and to the Cabinet Office in Whitehall. Exploration of the separate but interlinking contributions made by these three parts of the centre shows they form a flexible but not entirely adequate support for modern government.
Digital government is a new frontier of the development of electronic commerce. Electronic Government Strategies and Implementation is a timely piece to address the issues involved in strategically implementing digital government, which is a collection of high-quality papers that covers the various aspects of digital government strategic issues and implementations from the perspectives of both developed and developing countries. This book combines e-government implementation experiences from both developed and developing countries, and is useful to researchers and practitioners in the area as well as instructors teaching courses related to digital government and/or electronic commerce.
Gaffney analyzes how de Gaulle came to power in 1958: The drama surrounding the Fourth Republic's collapse, and the focus upon an exceptional individual meant that de Gaulle was able to confer a particular style of leadership on the Fifth Republic. The five Presidents who came after him have each capitalized on their own political 'persona.'
One of the nation's most effective congressional leaders, Sam Rayburn served as Speaker of the House longer than anyone in U.S. history. Although he has been the subject of several biographies and numerous articles, until now no comprehensive analysis of Rayburn has integrated these disparate materials in a single resource. Sam Rayburn: A Bio-Bibliography accomplishes that objective. Designed for scholars interested in the life and historical period of Sam Rayburn, the volume includes a detailed biographical sketch and an extensive annotated bibliography describing the Rayburn resource materials. The bibliographic entries are divided into three parts: works about Rayburn, Rayburn as author, and archival sources. Because Rayburn wrote little, the inclusion of some 80 oral histories by friends and associates of Rayburn is an especially valuable feature for the researcher. Those papers by Rayburn that do exist are included and fully annotated here. The section covering works about Rayburn includes media coverage of the Congressman, interviews with Rayburn's colleagues, and memoirs as well as books and articles about Rayburn. A chronology is included for quick reference to major events in Rayburn's life and a complete index facilitates easy access to the main entries.
This study, written by seasoned professionals and academics in the field of information management and public policy, presents a clear exposition of what makes up infostructures, how they are created and used, and how they affect the policy-making process. The only study to address both information management and technology and the policy process itself, it offers a balanced treatment of the numerous resources and activities required to generate and feed information into public sector decision-making.
This book brings to a culmination in later modern times the long and complicated history of ideas on sovereignty and the state that has occupied previous volumes in this series. The 19th and 20th centuries have witnessed the fruition of the legislative state "par excellence" as well as its companion concept, legislative sovereignty. This book tackles the ideas of numerous writers such as Bentham, Austin, Hegel, Marx, Savigny, Kelsen, Lenin, Bosanquet, Rawls, Hart, to mention a few, along with the views of many leaders like Gladstone, Lloyd George, Napoleon III, Bismarck, Cavour, Hitler, and Mussolini. The common denominator of legislation is seen to underlie their concepts of sovereignty and the state across a diverse range of isms such as utilitarianism, positivism, idealism, socialism, and nationalism, in the 19th century and in related neo and anti-neo forms in the 20th century. This book's organization and classification of these and other issues is on the whole novel and comprehensive. As various reviewers have indicated, nothing of this magnitude on the subjects at hand has ever before been attempted. Finally, the book brings historical issues together to bear on the shape of sovereignty and the state today and into the future.
State building and democratization in Africa rarely attract the attention they deserve. Few have grappled with the relationship between state building (nation-building) and democratic experiments in Africa. This collection consciously corrects this shortcoming in African political studies. Among the issues raised: Does democracy facilitate state building or does it exacerbate ethnic conflicts? Are certain modalities of democratization more likely to facilitate state-building than others? Has the era of democracy created the need for new state building strategies? Does the objective of state building require significant modifications in the essence and form of democracy? This collection combines theoretical explorations with empirical case studies. It looks at both anglophone and francophone countries of sub-Saharan Africa. While the contributors have written extensively on African issues, there is no consensus among the authors; most argue that integrating ethnic groups that already face discrimination and often are engaged in conflict requires compromise, political settlements, and new terms of incorporation into the state. These compromises, in turn, involve new arrangements in how democracy is perceived and instituted. An important collection for scholars, students, and other researchers involved with African political, social, and economic development.
Essentially, good governance is the primary mission of the public sector. Effective policy management is a crucial component of good governance if the desired improvements in society are to be achieved. A thorough understanding of the nature, content, processes and outcomes of public policy is not only imperative for continually improving public sector governance, but also vital for establishing good public management on a daily basis. The fourth edition of Improving public policy for good governance has been updated and revised substantially. It focuses on integrating the functionally specialised agencies of government, business, labour and civil society into a holistic and efficient policy network. This is necessary in an attempt to deal with the complexities of transformational leadership while addressing optimal development and public services delivery in society, amidst an ever advancing digital era that is under increasing resource constraints. This book bridges the theory and practice of public policy by linking them in a user-friendly manner. It explains what public policy is and should be, why and how it is created, and how public policy content, processes, outputs and outcomes can be improved to promote optimal good governance. Furthermore, it shows how to achieve sustainable developmental goals in the information society of the 21st century, particularly in complex developing countries. This edition also contains a new chapter on competing values and the ethics of public policy. Among other issues, it addresses the intractable problems of corruption and nepotism that are endemic to any policy system. Each chapter also includes references to the latest published South African and international resources on various aspects of public policy. Improving public policy for good governance is essential reading material for all students, researchers and practitioners in the field of public policy who require knowledge, insight and/or practical skills in this important field. All contributors are experienced public-policy educators, practitioners and evaluators. Fanie Cloete is Emeritus Professor of Policy Analysis in the Department of Public Management and Governance at the University of Johannesburg, as well as in the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University. He is also a legacy chair of the SA Monitoring and Evaluation Association. Christo de Coning is Professor Extraordinaire in the School for Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University, as well as the Founding Board Member of the Foundation for Sport, Development and Peace, and the Managing Director of the Institute for Sport and Development. Henry Wissink is Professor of Public Governance at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is also the former Dean and Head of the School of Management, IT and Governance at UKZN and former Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Commerce and Governmental Studies at the former PE Technikon, which became the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). Babette Rabie is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the master's programme at the School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University. She is currently the Book Review Editor for the international journal Evaluation and Program Planning (Elsevier) and a legacy chair of the SA Monitoring and Evaluation Association (SAMEA).
Without jargon or mathematical theory to hinder a quick understanding and use, here are the research tools and techniques you can grasp and immediately apply to obtain research services from others or do research yourself. Johnson makes clear that to succeed in any public agency management position, you have to be able to think analytically and know how to assess the quality of research results. By providing the underlying concepts and just enough methodology to operationalize them, she gives you exactly what you need--in a clear, straightforward way that takes the fear out of learning. You will find here an especially wide range of practical guidelines and examples, all from the author's own and others' experiences in a variety of settings within the public sector. Throughout her book she emphasizes the "how" of research--how to do it, how to make sense of its findings--and covers all the basic statistical tools, concetrating steadily on interpreting research results. An important, reader-friendly text for students of public administration, and for their often perplexed colleagues already on the job. Johnson explains that public administrators do not do research themselves all that often. But with the rising demand for results measurement, balancing scorecards, benchmarking and assessing customer satisfaction, they do need to understand the basics of what research is and at least have more than just a glimmer of how it is done. Her book offers both--a simple, easily grasped presentation of research concepts and principles, plus all of the essentials of doing program evaluation, policy analysis, and applied social science. It is especially useful as a text in such courses as researchmethods, program evaluation and introduction to applied statistics, usually found in public administration programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. And for people already in jobs outside the academic community, people who are now asked to do tasks that they seldom did before--and never expected they would be asked to do--it is essential.
This book provides an insight into the possibilities that so-called ""Electronic Government"" has to offer. It demonstrates the elements belonging to the concept of E-Government and acts as a point of reference for those aiming to implement it. Checklists and lists of questions enable self-assessment at local, state and federal levels, highlighting opportunities for further development. The book cannot be described as technical - programmers will not find any instructions. Instead, it is designed to act as a point of orientation for decision makers in the field of government and politics, without the need to get bogged down in technical details. Central to the book are the following questions: what is Electronic Government, what advantages does it bring to those involved with it, and how can it be introduced?
What does it take to design effective government institutions and sustain positive changes? What have we learnt about the attempts to deliberately design and redesign public sector institutions in different countries? What works and what doesn't, and why? What happens when reforms fail? This book looks at what the existing academic literature tells us about these questions, and intends to answer these questions to generate and define theoretical and practical knowledge about deliberate (vs. evolutionary) public sector institutional change. It analyzes lessons from changes implemented by international development agencies working to reform public sector institutions in developing countries over the last five decades. The book details reforms in one such country; Kyrgyzstan, one of the more diligent nations in undertaking donor-guided reforms since its independence in 1991. It then presents a conceptual framework and analytical tools essential for understanding the processes used in deliberate institutional change, and in planning for and implementing institutional reform.
Training in government is not a primary mission for a variety of reasons, and this book attempts to increase the importance of training in government organizations by showing how training can increase individual performance and overall productivity. Sims challenges recent commission findings that excellence in training government workers is not a priority and offers a framework to better centrally manage governing training efforts. Sims has designed the book to help government organizations (federal, state, county and local) demonstrate the value added of efficient and effective training programs. In addition, the book offers a helpful discussion on the differences between private and public sector organizations and the training issues germane to each sector (for example, the availability of financial resources alloted for training in the private sector far outweigh those in the public arena). He concludes is that if training is functioning in government, then it is contributing to the activities of the organization in a number of different ways (for example, improving performance through the application of what has been learned).
His message was simple, repeated almost like a mantra: cut taxes, cut spending, reduce bureaucracy, deregulate. His followers saw him as a conservative revolutionary; his detractors saw him as Mr. Magoo. Now that Reagan's achievements and failures have become more obvious, it is time for a new nonpartisan appraisal of his leadership and its impact on the nation. That is precisely what John Sloan delivers. Sloan focuses especially on the questions raised in the highly polemical debates between conservatives and liberals concerning Reagan's economic policies. He gives equal time to both sides, showing how liberals were wrong in their predictions of gloom, while conservatives continue to grant Reagan more credit and status than he deserves. "The Reagan Effect" reveals how the failures of the Carter administration set the stage for Reagan's success, describes how he united diverse conservative factions, and shows how Reagan's personality affected his decision-making style. In examining the economic record, it explains how Reagan persuaded Congress to pass budget and tax cuts while funding a costly defense buildup, and it analyzes the construction of a policy regime that prolonged the growth phase of the business cycle by lowering the threat of inflation. It also provides fresh insights into the Reagan administration's responsibility for the savings and loan disaster and tells how it dealt with trade imbalances. The political success of Reagan's presidency, observes Sloan, can largely be attributed to the combined efforts of conservatives, pragmatists, and public relations experts. Reagan was a populist anti-intellectual, a former actor who knew how to deliver his message in a way that pleased his audiences, and who never allowed "the facts" to undermine his convictions. Sloan stresses that Reagan's rhetoric functioned to keep consevatives loyal while masking pragmatic compromises. While Sloan suggests that the net effects of Reagan's presidency were positive, he is not uncritical. He contends that Reagan's ridicule of attempts to promote social justice ultimately diminish his image as a great moral leader. He also observes that effective government-such as relying on the Federal Reserve to control inflation-was an essential component in Reagan's leadership, thus contradicting the anti-government stance of many conservatives. Sloan concludes that Reagan's impact, as opposed to his rhetoric, was not to displace liberalism but to weld conservatism to it, and that neither the era of big government nor the need for effective national public policies is over.
In this book, Rochlin applies Revolution in Military Affairs theories to explain the various strategic victories and losses for assorted social forces in Colombia and Mexico. These countries form the ideal comparative case study, with Colombia as an example for RMA from above by the state, while Mexico demonstrates RMA from below by civil society.
"In Europe, the subsidiarity principle has been enjoying renewed consensus in recent years. This book offers an insight on the original meaning of subsidiarity, particularly the horizontal dimension of subsidiarity, which challenge traditional patterns of government. Prominent international scholars and experts from various fields "read" the distinctive wealth of government experience accumulated in Lombardy and the experience of governing in their own various countries. This book is for anyone willing to add a new perspective, that of subsidiarity, to the debate on governance reform"--
"Riccards has written a unique account of the creation of and early experience with the US presidency. The author first explores the English and colonial experience that was relevant to structuring executive authority at the constitutional convention (as well as the theories supporting this experience). He then turns to familiar subjects--the decision-making in Philadelphia that led to a presidency and the role of the executive article in the ratification debate. All this is accomplished with clarity and economy of writing. The longer second part of the book is an analysis of George Washington's presidency, showing that Washington followed a federalist or strong executive model. Several brief chapters discuss the man and his popularity among the American people, the condition of the executive and bureaucracy before Washington became president, and events and policies that occupied the first president. The last chapter is an epilogue that all too briefly sets the Washington presidency in comparative and historical context. . . . The book is a useful contribution to presidential scholarship." Choice
During the early 1990s the Department of Justice used its Voting Rights Act power to object to racially unfair redistricting laws to force states to maximize minority congressional districts. The results were dramatic: Congressional Black Caucus membership swelled from 25 to 38 and nine new Hispanic congresspersons were sworn in. Only three years later, the maximization strategy lay in ruins. The courts forced many of the new minority districts to be redrawn and the judiciary reserved especially harsh criticism for the Department. Cunningham examines and analyzes how the Department came to adopt the maximization strategy. He explores the bureaucratic culture of the Division's Voting Section, its history, and the interaction of its progressive career staff with more conservative political appointees. The Division works amidst a vibrant interest group environment, with civil rights advocates, the state, and political parties eager for influence. Cunningham shows how that influence contest was won by the civil rights groups, how their preferred interpretations of fair redistricting and discriminatory purpose were adopted by the Division, and how their chosen districting models were forced upon states by the Division. He examines the effect the Department has had on federalism, representation, and its own impaired credibility with the judiciary. Finally, he suggests how the Division might resurrect its damaged reputation for balanced enforcement. An important study for scholars, students, and public policy makers involved with civil rights, public administration, and public law.
A. R. Myers's research in the history of late medieval England spanned more than forty years. Throughout his academic career 15th-century England, especially the documentary remnants of its administration, held his attention consistently though not exclusively. The relevant studies, fruits of his research in this field which were originally published in periodicals published over five decades, have here been brought together. As a corpus they provide a collection of important documents related to the crown, the royal household and parliament. Complete with a critical introduction by R. B. Dobson, this is the essential collection of the works of an influential historian of early modern England.
Over the past decade, Lyndon Johnson has become the focus of an increasing number of revisionist studies. As a group, these works have been every bit as contentious and contradictory as LBJ himself and, ultimately, have provided only limited consensus on his presidency and his political career. Adding fire to the debate, seven leading Johnson scholars here provide a revealing new look at LBJ's role in domestic and foreign policy. They examine his obsession with the Vietnam War; his commitment to the Great Society and civil rights; his failure to deal with radical civil-rights leaders and the crisis in the ghettos; his limited knowledge of Europe and his dealings with NATO; his Middle East policy; his views on Strategic Arms Limitations; his contribution to the decline of the Democratic party in the sixties; and his reactive rather than proactive response to women's issues. This is the third volume in editor Robert Divine's highly regarded series on the LBJ presidency. Originally intended to feature the rich materials available to scholars in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library in Austin, the trilogy's accomplishments now extend well beyond that original intent. It both deepens our understanding of the major issues of the sixties and points the way to significant topics and resources for future debate.
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