Exploring academic and policy thinking on e-participation, this book opens up the organizational and institutional 'black box' and provides new insights into how public administrations in 15 European states have facilitated its implementation. Using multiple case studies, the book offers a systematic analysis of how e-participation initiatives are actually organized and administered within the government, as well as how the political context and collaborative partnerships both within the government and with non-governmental actors affect the adoption and institutionalization of e-participation platforms. Contributors provide new empirical evidence on some of the most pressing questions related to the organization and management of e-participation, aiming to provide better understanding of citizen participation platforms. Providing comparative knowledge on the institutional, administrative and organizational aspects of e-participation, this book will be an ideal read for public policy researchers and government practitioners interested in innovation and technology in public administration.

Studies of the recent financial crisis have been largely dominated by economists, but the similarities and differences between European countries' response reflect both economic and political perspectives which have resulted in considerable differences in their decisions. Drawing on uniquely comprehensive research data, this book presents an in-depth comparative analysis of how 14 European governments tackled the challenge of fiscal consolidation, and analyses the political decision-making behind these measures. By exploring national responses not just in fiscal terms, but also from a political perspective, it reveals that decision making has been driven by political factors with profound effects on public administration and management. This ground-breaking book fills an important gap in the research literature for scholars of public management, public administration and policy, and will be a benchmark for future work on the global economic crisis.