Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. In order to be successful, public administration (PA) research has to be methodologically promiscuous. Attempting either quantitative or qualitative purity is no way to reflect the complex realities of public administration in the real world. Looking to the future of the subject, this Research Handbook seeks to suggest the future of PA research, and the directions which it may - or should - take. With chapters from leading researchers, A Research Agenda for Public Administration offers observations, analysis, and concerns from researchers. With thematically linked chapters, this book focuses and clarifies the current research agenda for public administration while endorsing the need for relevant research in the field, and advocating for theory which fits the reality and practice of public administration, for example, in the areas of climate change, disease control, and migration and inequality. This Research Agenda will assist students of PA as well as of public sector management, especially postgraduates, but it is also a useful resource for more established researchers seeking to understand the major emerging issues. Contributors include: T. Brandsen, G. Brewer, W. Dreschsler, P. Dunleavy, C.A. Dunlop, M. Evans, M. Halupka, S. Kuhlman, T.R. Liiv, A. Massey, C. McGregor, K. Pan-Suk, C. Pollitt, C.M. Radaelli, T. Randma-Liiv, R. Rhodes, K. Sarapuu, T. Steen, B. Verschuere, D. Walker, L. Zhiyong

Elgar Research Agendas outline the future of research in a given area. Leading scholars are given the space to explore their subject in provocative ways, and map out the potential directions of travel. They are relevant but also visionary. In order to be successful, public administration (PA) research has to be methodologically promiscuous. Attempting either quantitative or qualitative purity is no way to reflect the complex realities of public administration in the real world. Looking to the future of the subject, this Research Handbook seeks to suggest the future of PA research, and the directions which it may - or should - take. With chapters from leading researchers, A Research Agenda for Public Administration offers observations, analysis, and concerns from researchers. With thematically linked chapters, this book focuses and clarifies the current research agenda for public administration while endorsing the need for relevant research in the field, and advocating for theory which fits the reality and practice of public administration, for example, in the areas of climate change, disease control, and migration and inequality. This Research Agenda will assist students of PA as well as of public sector management, especially postgraduates, but it is also a useful resource for more established researchers seeking to understand the major emerging issues. Contributors include: T. Brandsen, G. Brewer, W. Dreschsler, P. Dunleavy, C.A. Dunlop, M. Evans, M. Halupka, S. Kuhlman, T.R. Liiv, A. Massey, C. McGregor, K. Pan-Suk, C. Pollitt, C.M. Radaelli, T. Randma-Liiv, R. Rhodes, K. Sarapuu, T. Steen, B. Verschuere, D. Walker, L. Zhiyong

This broad and all-encompassing study focuses on Europe's new policy agendas. It brings together international academic experts on a range of policies to discuss Europe's place in the world and its relationship to the USA and beyond. This book concentrates on two key themes of particular salience for policy makers: the enlargement of the EU and the place of Europe in international politics. An expansive list of important policy areas within these themes is explored, including: enlargement - political and constitutional implications and international socialization of central and eastern Europe Europe and the USA: security and defence policy, trade, finance and development institutional development and external relations in justice and home affairs before and after September 11 international terrorism, EU immigration and asylum and borders policy human rights and civil rights agriculture, environmental policy and regional policy pensions and ageing in Europe. This book constitutes a major contribution to achieving a deeper understanding of European integration and the barriers to integration within the context of global and multi-level governance. As such, it will be of enormous interest to an extensive audience including academics, researchers, students, policy makers and practitioners in the fields of political studies, international relations, public policy, European studies, US studies and security studies.

This major book reviews and analyses the changes that have taken place in public administration in Britain and North America over the last ten years and which will continue to have a profound impact on central and local bureaucracies well into the next century.Managing the Public Sector provides a critical introduction and successfully combines a review of the literature with original research. It relates theory to practice and highlights the problem of implementation. It covers all the major issues including privatization, and the importance of the business sector both as a partner and a powerful lobby for efforts to use market mechanisms to devolve power. This thoroughly modern, up-to-date book will be essential reading for all courses on public administration and policy analysis and the management of the public sector.

It is about time for another Handbook, and Massey and Johnston have given us a good one. It is to be commended particularly for having avoided the Anglocentricity of some previous volumes. Eminent scholars line up to give us useful frameworks for thinking about governance, and mature analyses of current systems across the continents. An excellent addition to both library and classroom.' - Christopher Pollitt, Leuven Public Government Institute, BelgiumTaking a comparative approach unmatched by any other book on this topic, this vital Handbook explores key questions around the ways in which public administration and governance challenges can be addressed by governments in an increasingly globalized world. World-leading experts explore contemporary issues of government and governance, as well as the relationship between civil society and the political class. The insights offered will allow policy makers and officials to explore options for policy making in a new and informed way. Adopting global perspectives of governance and public sector management, the Handbook includes scrutiny of current issues such as: public policy capacity, wicked policy problems, public sector reforms, the challenges of globalization and complexity management. Practitioners and scholars of public administration deliver a range of perspectives on the abiding wicked issues and challenges to delivering public services, and the way that delivery is structured. The Handbook uniquely provides international coverage of perspectives from Africa, Asia, North and South America, Europe and Australia. Practitioners and scholars of public administration, public policy, public sector management and international relations will learn a great deal from this Handbook about the issues and structures of government and governance in an increasingly complex world. Contributors: Perri 6, J.T. Anagnoson, G. Andranovich, A. Badran, G. Bouckaert, R. Cameron, S.S. Cankar, G.M. Cejudo, D. Curry, W. Drechsler, R.C. Gomes, J. Halligan, G. Hammerschmid, B.W. Head, S. Jilke, K. Johnston, A. Massey, D. Mctavish, J. O'Flynn, V. Petkovcek, R. Pyper, R.A.W Rhodes, D.J. Savoie, L. Secchi, A. Tiernan, K.K. Tummala, S. Van De Walle, Z. Zhu

This book represents a major attempt to draw together two fundamental streams of research: intergovernmental relations and multi-level governance (MLG). Combining US and European schools of thought, this timely volume outlines key areas of convergence and divergence. IGR concerns interactions within the public sector and is traditionally favored in America, whereas MLG is more pertinent to the crossroads of the vertical (intergovernmental) and horizontal (state-society) dimensions and is considered foremost a European approach. The principal objective of this book is to bridge the gap between academic communities on either side of the Atlantic. Prominent scholars have gathered together for this volume and their various contributions, both individually and as a whole, provide a fresh and novel perspective on IGR and MLG and their interconnections. This innovative book will be of particular appeal to scholars and students of political science in America, Europe and beyond as well as practitioners in US and EU governments. The companion volume Policy, Performance and Management in Governance and Intergovernmental Relations is also available from Edward Elgar Publishing.

While there is no universally accepted definition of civil servant and civil service, this authoritative and informative Handbook compares and contrasts various approaches to organizing the structure and activities of different civil service systems. The expert contributors consider the historical and theoretical context of public administration and public sector management, applying relevant theories and frameworks to provide a disciplinary perspective. Recurring topics and themes are explored, and international comparisons are made via case studies from Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, and North and South America. Issues addressed in each country study include accountability, structure, processes and institutions, as well as the relationship to the broader political systems in a world becoming aware that it exists within a differentiated polity. The Weberian legacy, joined-up government and the hollowed-out state thesis and the debate between Anglo-American influenced systems versus the Continental European approach to organizing the civil service are also discussed in detail. This systematic comparison of civil service systems and their political and theoretical foundations will prove essential reading for academics and students focusing on public policy and public sector management. Public service professionals will also find this book to be a crucial resource. Contributors include: T.E.D. Anagnosen, P. Barberis, E. Borgonovi, F. Buick, M. Desbouvries, M. Duggett, O.P. Dwivedi, M. Evans, A. Ferraro, J. Halligan, S. Horton, J.-M. Kauzya, M. Kikuchi, A. Massey, D.S. Mishra, A. Nakamura, J. O'Flynn, E. Ongaro, R. Parry, R. Pyper, C. Sadleir

This innovative book examines the concept of Eurogovernance and the parameters of public policy making in contemporary Europe. It argues that government and governance can only be understood from a multi-theoretical perspective and analyses the consequences of the challenge of regional interdependence for individual states, the European Union, and for Europe as a whole.In the first part, the authors introduce theories of public policy, the policy process and decision making. They then discuss Eurogovernance in the light of issues such as immigration, health policy, environment policy, eastward expansion of the European Union (EU), structural funding and defence policy. They find that there is no one correct way to analyse Europe's public policy and governance - the type of analysis changes according to its context. The authors also discuss the continuing hegemony exercised by the USA in, for example, security and defence issues, as well as economic management. Readers are also made aware of the dangers emanating from regions of instability, dangers which if not properly addressed may come to pose a threat to the grand designs of the architects of the EU's political and cultural destiny. This book will be essential reading for scholars of public policy and European studies.

This innovative book presents a transatlantic comparison of governance and Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) policy, performance and management. By examining both analytical and empirical differences and similarities between the European Union and the United States, this comprehensive book provides a better understanding of (inter) governmental systems, settings and actors operating in the post New Public Management Era. The expert contributors consider processes of policy formulation and implementation from an intergovernmental point of view, examine issues of performance and accountability that rise in IGR settings and zoom in on the importance and implications of IGR for welfare. Taken together, these insights provide an important next step into the world of transatlantic research and comparison. This timely book will appeal to academics and researchers involved in IGR and Multi-Level Governance from the US and Europe as well as post-graduate students in public administration and public policy. Contributors: E. Anessi-Pessina, G. Bouckaert, T. Bovaird, P.J. CamAes, E. CantA(1), C. Carbone, E. Charbonneau, L. Coleman, T. Conlan, F. Ebinger, G. Fattore, C. Ferrario, H.G. Frederickson, S. Grohs, J.L. Hall, J.S. Hall, J. Halligan, D. Hands, L. Hems, A. Henderson, M. Holzer, P.L. Hupe, D. Johnson, S. Kuhlmann, M. Laffin, J.W. Meek, E.A. Miller, L. Niklasson, P. Posner, R. Reiter, N.M. Riccucci, P.S. Roberts, M.L. Seguiti, T. Steen, T. Toonen, E. Wayenberg, C. Weissert, A. Zanardi

Civil services in Western liberal democracies have undergone significant changes since the early 1980s, so much so that many of the traditional assumptions underpinning their role and operating practices have been fundamentally questioned. This volume explores a number of themes inherent in this transformation process and the significant problems encountered in modernizing civil services. The commitment to modernizing public services has been a constant trend of Western governments and has encompassed many approaches under a variety of labels, such as new public management and reinventing government. As a result of such developments, the public services of many countries have been transformed, with civil services being singled out for particular attention. This book critically examines the application of the modernization agenda in the old Commonwealth, the USA and Western Europe, including the institutions of the EU. Particular attention is given to developments in the British civil service, including the implications of devolved government, human rights legislation, and the Blair government's attempts to improve the policy process. For students and academics of public administration, public policy and comparative politics, this book will provide unrivalled coverage of one of the most critical issues in contemporary public management and policy.