Modern Governance

New Government-Society Interactions

This wide-ranging text provides an overview of major governance developments in contemporary society. It outlines and illuminates recent theories about the relationship of public and private sectors, and the interaction of politics and society. The most recent and prevailing governance development is shown as a shift in the balance between government and society--away from the public sector toward the private sector. Modern Governance explores how new balances have been struck between the state and the market. It also identifies the forms and patterns that have emerged in this new balance. Patterns include substitutions of the market and the state; and new interactions between government and society in areas such as social welfare, environment, education, and services. Based on shared responsibility between the public and private sectors, such patterns have produced new forms of governing and public management. Modern Governance gives a broad overview of the subject. It shows empirical cases of new governance forms which are drawn from Western Europe. It also reviews the major theoretical concepts explaining these developments. Focus is placed on the challenges and prospects for modern public management. This comprehensive volume is essential reading for students of public administration, management, government and political science, and organization theory.