Comparative Governance
Rediscovering the Functional Dimension of Governing

Proposes a new, advanced theory of governance, emphasizing the interactions of the state with other actors.

B. Guy Peters (Author), Jon Pierre (Author)

9781107163799, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 15 September 2016

270 pages, 2 tables
23.5 x 15.7 x 1.8 cm, 0.49 kg

'The book provides a framework for better understanding of the theories of governance and is a major contribution in that direction. … Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.' A. R. Abootalebi, Choice

Decision-making is at the heart of governing and governance, and is a more challenging task compared to just a few decades ago as a result of increasing social complexity and globalization. In this book, B. Guy Peters and Jon Pierre propose a new framework for the comparative analysis of governance, arguing that government remains a central actor in governance. By articulating the functionalist dimension of governance they show how goal setting, resource mobilization, decision-making, implementation and feedback can be performed by a combination of different types of actors. Even so, effective governance requires a leading role for government. The framework is also applied to a taxonomy of governance arrangements and national styles of governing. Comparative Governance advances our knowledge about governance failure and how forms of governance may change. It also significantly strengthens the theory of governance, showing how governance can be studied conceptually as well as empirically.

Preface
1. The governance problem
2. The theory of governance
3. Decision-making: the essence of governing
4. Governance and comparative politics
5. The institutional politics of intergovernmental relationships
6. Implementation, administration and governance
7. Governance failure, functional failure and state failure
8. The change of governance and the governance of change
9. Conclusions: governance, functionalism and comparative politics
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Comparative politics [JPB], Politics & government [JP]