Democratic governance

__Democratic Governance__ examines the changing nature of the modern state and reveals the dangers these changes pose to democracy. Mark Bevir shows how new ideas about governance have gradually displaced old-style notions of government in Britain and around the world. Policymakers cling to outdated concepts of representative government while at the same time placing ever more faith in expertise, markets, and networks. Democracy exhibits blurred lines of accountability and declining legitimacy. Bevir explores how new theories of governance undermined traditional government in the twentieth century. Politicians responded by erecting great bureaucracies, increasingly relying on policy expertise and abstract notions of citizenship and, more recently, on networks of quasi-governmental and private organizations to deliver services using market-oriented techniques. Today, the state is an unwieldy edifice of nineteenth-century government buttressed by a sprawling substructure devoted to the very different idea of governance--and democracy has suffered. In __Democratic Governance__, Bevir takes a comprehensive look at governance and the history and thinking behind it. He provides in-depth case studies of constitutional reform, judicial reform, joined-up government, and police reform. He argues that the best hope for democratic renewal lies in more interpretive styles of expertise, dialogic forms of policymaking, and more diverse avenues for public participation.

Democratic Governance examines the changing nature of the modern state and reveals the dangers these changes pose to democracy. Mark Bevir shows how ideas about governance have gradually displaced old-style notions of government in Britain and around the world. Policymakers cling to outdated concepts of representative government while at the same time placing ever more faith in expertise, markets, and networks. Democracy exhibits blurred lines of accountability and declining legitimacy.

Bevir explores how new theories of governance undermined traditional government in the twentieth century. Politicians responded by erecting great bureaucracies, increasingly relying on policy expertise and abstract notions of citizenship and, more recently, on networks of quasi-governmental and private organizations to deliver services using market-oriented techniques. Today, the state is an unwieldy edifice of nineteenth-century government buttressed by a sprawling substructure devoted to the very different idea of governance-and democracy has suffered.

In Democratic Governance, Bevir takes a comprehensive look at governance the history and thinking behind it. He provides in-depth case studies of constitutional reform, judicial reform, joined-up government, and police reform. He argues that the best hope for democratic renewal lies in more interpretive styles of expertise, dialogic forms of policymaking, and more diverse avenues for public participation.

Interpreting Governance -- Pt. I. The New Governance. The Modern State -- New Theories -- New Worlds -- Pt. Ii. Constitutionalism. Democratic Governance -- Constitutional Reform -- Judicial Reform -- Pt. Iii. Public Administration. Public Policy -- Joined-up Governance -- Police Reform -- Conclusion : After Modernism. Mark Bevir. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Content: Cover Title Copyright Contents List of Tables Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations CHAPTER ONE: Interpreting Governance PART I: The New Governance PART II: Constitutionalism PART III: Public Administration CONCLUSION: After Modernism Bibliography Index. Examines the changing nature of the modern state and reveals the dangers these changes pose to democracy. This title shows how fresh ideas about governance have gradually displaced old-style notions of government in Britain and around the world.