Robust Governance in Turbulent Times

Our existence in a near-chronic state of crisis-induced turbulence calls for robust governance based on adaptation and innovation.

Christopher Ansell (Author), Eva Sørensen (Author), Jacob Torfing (Author), Jarle Trondal (Author)

9781009500432, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 May 2024

108 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 1.2 cm, 0.3 kg

This Element aims to build, promote, and consolidate a new social science research agenda by defining and exploring the concepts of turbulence and robustness, and subsequently demonstrating the need for robust governance in turbulent times. Turbulence refers to the unpredictable dynamics that public governance is currently facing in the wake of the financial crisis, the refugee crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, the inflation crisis etc. The heightened societal turbulence calls for robust governance aiming to maintain core functions, goals and values by means of flexibly adapting and proactively innovating the modus operandi of the public sector. This Element identifies a broad repertoire of robustness strategies that public governors may use and combine to respond robustly to turbulence. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

1. Why do we need robust governance?
2. Turbulence: a challenge for public governance
3. Robust governance: background, definition, and dynamics
4. Strategies for robust governance
5. Conditions for robust governance
6. Key points, practical implications, and future research avenues
References.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP]