Owen E. Hughes investigates governance across sectors including corporate, international and political governance, arguing that governance, as a general concept and an operational system, is in crisis. Hughes reasons that the crisis is in governance in general, in how societies run themselves, in how companies are run and how international organizations are run. This critical book examines the ways in which governance enables the smooth running of these societies, companies and organizations, from sub-national to international levels, and how the setting up of structures or institutional arrangements can impact this. These structures, institutions and arrangements are explored from legal, ethical and behavioural perspectives to provide a well-informed introduction to the crisis of governance. The book further examines debates over the facts, lies, science and policies behind governance, scrutinising the conflicts between democracy and autocracy in governance. The Crisis of Governance will be a beneficial resource for both undergraduate and graduate courses in public administration and management. Academics, students and scholars interested in public affairs, international politics and corporate economics will also find value in this timely book.

This book provides theories, experiences, reflections and future directions for social scientists who wish to engage with policy-oriented research in, and for, cities and regions. The '?policy learning?' perspective is comprehensively discussed, focusing on actors promoting '?policy knowledge?' and interaction among different stakeholders. Theoretical frameworks and practical experiences of policy-orientated research for European regions and cities are comprehensively explored in this timely book. The authors review current theories and present novel case studies of policy-orientated research. By combining policy analysis with urban and regional studies, the book highlights how researchers can be agents of policy learning, helping policymakers to learn how to learn. This book will provide unique, real world insights for researchers, practitioners and stakeholders interested in research-based approaches to cities and regions. Contributors include: I. Bakker, S. Bandera, P. Benneworth, M.C. Cattaneo, P. Coletti, A. Colombino, A. Colombo, J.L. De las Rivas Sanz, N. Francesco Dotti, F. Eckardt, A. Gerritsen, S. Giest, D. Greenwood, A. Healy, T. Herrschel, T. Metze-Burghouts, S. Moyson, M. Paris, S. Pazos-Vidal, D. Pojani, P. Scholten, D. Stead, M. Stuiver, C. Termeer, G. Urso, J. Vaesen, W.-J. Velderman, B. Wayens

Based on 12 years of research on corruption across the globe, this book presents four empirical case studies which illustrate the cultural, cognitive, and social implications of corruption. Davide Torsello examines the socio-institutional, organizational, and cognitive-hermeneutical aspects of the cultural theory model of corruption. This insightful book proposes an innovative theoretical framework on how the notion of culture can be used to understand corruption as an inexplicable yet resilient phenomenon. Chapters examine the hermeneutical, cultural, and social aspects of corruption, the unravelling political–business corruption in contemporary Japan, and the relationship between organizational culture and corruption. Torsello advises on how to deal with corruption by asking questions that have often been ignored in mainstream literature and suggests that the investigation of corruption must focus on larger societal fields, rather than more limited individual–organizational ones, although ultimately the decision to indulge or not in such a criminal act is of the individual and reflects their own degree of self-awareness. Illustrating multidimensional perspectives on mainstream theories of corruption, this book will be essential reading for students and scholars in cultural sociology, political studies, public administration and management, and public policy. It will also be beneficial for practitioners working in criminology, local and national governance, politics, and social policy.

The budget has been among the most pressing topics facing Brussels throughout the history of the EU. Features and Challenges of the EU Budget proposes a timely analysis of the most pertinent issues surrounding the EU budget with a multidisciplinary approach that includes historical, political, legal and economic interpretations. This thought provoking book considers the history of the EU budget and the European integration process, offering insight into the broader political implications of the budget for both Member State governments and for their citizens. Features and Challenges of the EU Budget also explores the legal and economic repercussions of the EU budget, examines the framework that controls it, and interrogates the budget's effects on European growth and competitiveness alongside its significance to the structural balances of Member States. At a time of uncertainty for the EU, this book provides a critical investigation of how political factors will affect the future of the EU budget. Featuring the unique contributions of academics from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, this insightful work will be of great interest to scholars and students investigating the politics, structure and economics of the EU. This book will also be useful to institutions offering courses or programmes concerning the EU and its budget. Contributors include: P. Becker, A. Isoni, R. Kaiser, M. Koelling, K. Mause, E. Perreau, M. Pierri, M. Schratzenstaller, M. Scotto, U. Villani-Lubelli, L. Zamparini

Based on a survey of more than 6,700 top civil servants in 17 European countries, this book explores the impacts of New Public Management (NPM)-style reforms in Europe from a uniquely comparative perspective. It examines and analyses empirical findings regarding the dynamics, major trends and tools of administrative reforms, with special focus on the diversity of top executives' perceptions about the effects of those reforms. Resulting from research funded by the European Commission, this book is an ambitious, comprehensive portrait of public administration in the central European bureaucracies after more than three decades of NPM reforms and in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. The chapters present extensive data on single countries but invaluably take a comparative approach, presenting a broad, explorational perspective. Public Administration Reforms in Europe is an indispensable resource for researchers, practitioners and students in a variety of social science areas, especially public administration, public policy and public management. Contributors include: J. M. Alonso, R. Andrews, P. Bezes, R. Boyle, M.E. Cardim, J. Clifton, D. Diaz-Fuentes, J. Downe, N. Ejersbo, F. Ferre, D. Galli, C. Greve, V. Guarneros-Meza, G. Hajnal, G. Hammerschmid, K. Huxley, G. Jeannot, S. Jilke, P. Laegreid, S. Leixnering, F. Longo, R.E. Meyer, L. Mota, V. Nakrosis, S.A. OEberg, E. Ongaro, A. Oprisor, L. Pereira, T. Randma-Liiv, R. Rauleckas, L.H. Rykkja, K. Sarapuu, L. Sarkute , R. Savi, A. Schikowitz, R. Snapstiene, T. Steen, V. Stimac, S. Van de Walle, J. van der Voet, T. Virtanen, U. Weske, H. Wockelberg

During the COVID-19 era, the functions of social policy and public administration have undergone a meaningful change, especially with the advancement of digital elements and online and virtual functions. Cyber developments, cyber threats, and the effects of cyberwar on the public administrations of countries have become critical research subjects, and it is important to have resources that can introduce and guide users through the current best practices, laboratory methods, policies, protocols, and more within cyber public administration and social policy. The Handbook of Research on Cyber Approaches to Public Administration and Social Policy focuses on the post-pandemic changes in the functions of social policy and public administration. It also examines the implications of the cyber cosmos on public and social policies and practices from a broad perspective. Covering topics such as intersectional racism, cloud computing applications, and public policies, this major reference work is an essential resource for scientists, laboratory technicians, professionals, technologists, computer scientists, policymakers, students, educators, researchers, and academicians.

The growing intensity and complexity of public service has spurred policy reform efforts across the globe, many featuring attempts to promote more collaborative government. Collaboration in Public Service Delivery sheds light on these efforts, analysing and reconceptualising the major types of collaboration in public service delivery through a governance lens. Featuring careful analysis with a global scope, this book unpacks the concept of collaborative service delivery and its practice, drawing from the fields of public policy, public administration, and management. Chapters by leading authors in these areas address service delivery arrangements including co-production, co-management, consultations, contracting-out, commissioning and certification. With a keen focus on conditions that are critical for the success of such collaborative arrangements, as well as their different pathways and pitfalls, the authors suggest ways to improve the analytical, managerial and political capacities needed for successful collaboration in public service delivery. This timely and comprehensive book is useful for students at all levels interested in public policy, governance, administration and management, as well as researchers investigating the governance of collaborative service delivery. Policymakers and practitioners working to re-evaluate and improve public service provision, especially, will also benefit from its insightful discussions of the conditions and mechanisms under which collaborative arrangements operate and fail or succeed.