May 2004, Polity
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 undergraduate and postgraduate students of politics, international relations and public policy.
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.
- This is the first book to fully explore the way in which
governance is interpreted in different fields of political science,
such as International Relations, comparative politics, public
- Provides a common institutional definition of governance.
- Provides a common critique of governance as under-emphasising
issues of power.
- Offers new insights into understanding ‘governance’
as a key concept in political science.
- Accessibly written for students approaching the topic for the first time.
International Studies Review