Key Concepts

Overview

Governance is an easy-to read introduction to an increasingly important concept in political science. It provides a clear overview of how the concept has been used in the sub-fields of public administration and public policy, international relations, European studies, and comparative politics.

There is no universally accepted and agreed definition of ‘governance'. It remains an elusive theory, defined and conceptualized in various ways. In this book, Anne Mette Kjær guides the reader through the key theoretical debates which have given rise to distinct interpretations of governance. Drawing on a wide range of empirical examples to illustrate her arguments, the author explores how governance has been used in different ways to describe political changes in the modern world. She goes on to weigh up the pros and cons of governance as an analytical term, and concludes with a discussion of the World Bank's role as an international organization which aims to promote ‘good governance' in poor countries across the globe.

This is the first textbook to offer a systematic assessment of current debates around the concept of governance. It will be a valuable resource for students of politics, international relations and public policy.

About the Author

Mette Kjær is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Aarhus.

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1: Introduction: the meanings of governance
• Chapter 2: Governance in public administration and Public Policy: Steering inter-organizational networks
• Chapter 3: Governance in international relations: governing in a global era
• Chapter 4: European governance: Between international relations and public policy
• Chapter
• 5. Governance in comparative politics 1: the state and economic development
• Chapter 6: Governance in comparative politics 2: theories of democratization
• Chapter 7: Governance and the World Bank
• Chapter 8: Conclusion

Endorsements

“Kjær guides the reader through the jungle that is the literature on governance with both clarity and insight. It is not only a first in achieving this formidable goal; it is also by far the most comprehensive. She covers a tremendous amount of ground while paying adequate attention to subtle details in the way governance has been treated as a concept by both academics and policy analysts. It is a book that I would not hesitate to put in the hands of my students.”

— Goran Hyden, Distinguished Professor, University of Florida

“ This is an excellent summary of current aspects of governance. The focused and carefully reasoned approach provides a good synthesis of contemporary debates, and clarifies the different uses of the concept in public administration, international relations, and comparative politics. This book is a valuable contribution to the literature on governance.”

— Professor Guy Peters, Department of Political Science, University of Pittsburgh