Many reformers argue that the future of democracies depends on the quality of their political institutions. If so, it may be worthwhile examining the democratic-instrumental vision of citizens and their representatives -- which assumes that they can and should decide how they might be organized and governed -- and thereby develop a better theoretical understanding of the nature, architecture, dynamics of change, performance, and effects of institutions. It may be useful to study the possibilities and limitations of governing through deliberately changing institutional arrangements and thereby achieving intended, anticipated and desired effects - including how institutions contribute to organized rule, orderly change, civilized co-existence, unity in diversity and the ability to accommodate and continuously balance rather than eliminate what John Stuart Mill called "standing antagonisms". This book offers an organization-theory-based institutional approach and it assumes that a fruitful route to improved understanding of political organization and government is to observe large-scale institutional reforms. The primary source of insight is the grand experiment in political integration through institution building and polity formation in Europe - the European Union. Yet, the book relates to century-long controversies concerning what is good government and how best to organize common affairs. The main challenge is to examine the claim that theoretical ideas and concepts developed in the context of the sovereign state are outdated in the context of the emerging European polity and a globalized world and to analyze what students of political institutions, as well as citizens, can learn from recent European experiments in democratic organization and government.
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Governing through Institution Building offers an organization theory-based institutional approach to understanding political organization and government by examining large-scale institutional reforms. Political integration is examined through institution building and polity formation in the EU.
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Preface and acknowledgements ; PART I: INTRODUCTION ; 1. A Democratic Vision and Some Complications ; PART II: A GRAND EXPERIMENT IN INSTITUTION BUILDING AND POLIY FORMATION ; 2. Lessons in Political Organization from European Integration? ; PART III: THREE UNIFYING CONTROVERSIES IN THE STUDY OF POLITICAL ORGANIZATION ; 3. Change and Continuity ; 4. Central Authority and Institutional Autonomy ; 5. Bureaucracy - An Instrument for Whom and for What Purpose? ; PART IV: EPILOGUE ; 6. Political Science: Architectonic Discipline or Academic Carrefour? ; Bibliograpy ; Index
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780199593934
Publisert
2010
Utgiver
Vendor
Oxford University Press
Vekt
572 gr
Høyde
241 mm
Bredde
164 mm
Dybde
21 mm
Aldersnivå
P, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
264

Forfatter

Biographical note

Johan P. Olsen is Professor Emeritus, Former and Founding Director of ARENA - Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo, Professor of Public Administration and Organization Theory, University of Bergen, Professor of Political Science, University of Oslo, Visiting Scholar University of California, Irvine and Visiting Scholar and Professor at Stanford University.