Publisher's Synopsis
Governance has never been more difficult. There has been a loss of public consent and trust in government. In a more diverse society there is an increasing variety of largely incompatible claims on government. People are concerned about the policy choices and the role of the state in promoting a balance between economic growth and social development, equity and the quality of life. There is concern about the capacity of governments to cope.
The Future of Governance: Policy Choices identifies the forces for change on government - from globalisation to feminism - and illustrates how they have influenced policies, and how much autonomous decision making power governments actually have.
Key sectors covered by distinguished contributors include: economic policy; industry and regional policy; labour market policies; social policy; the environment; cultural policy and national identity; international considerations; and the notion of policy capacity. At each stage of the text, the authors return to the important pressures being placed upon formulation by the technological, societal and economic changes being experienced by governments.
Aimed at undergraduates, postgraduates and policy practitioners alike, The Future of Governance: Policy Choices provides a timely and important insight into the future policy making capacity of Australian governments and the policy choices they are likely to face.
