Democracy's Hidden Heroes Fitting Policy to People and Place
Produktdetaljer
Biografisk notat
David C. Campbell is Emeritus Professor of Cooperative Extension in the Department of Human Ecology at the University of California, Davis.<i>“This compelling book is a must-read for anyone wanting a greater understanding about how the tensions between democracy and bureaucracy are navigated behind the scenes by hidden heroes working for the public good.”</i>-<b>Rosemary O’Leary</b>, Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor Emerita at the University of Kansas School of Public Affairs, and author of <i>The Ethics of Dissent: Managing Guerrilla Government</i> <i>“This terrific book is especially timely, given the widespread interest by policymakers, scholars, and the citizenry in improved accountability and results for public services. Campbell’s thorough, very readable book profiles, in rich detail, the implementation of community-based initiatives and the complex tradeoffs faced by community leaders and service providers as they strive to balance responsiveness to local communities with adherence to government regulations and programmatic expectations. At a time of polarized politics, </i>Democracy’s Hidden Heroes<i> offers important and highly useful recommendations for improving democratic practice and community services. It will be a valuable resource for faculty, students, policymakers, and practitioners concerned with contemporary policy implementation and community-based services.”</i>-<b>Steven Rathgeb Smith</b>, American Political Science Association <i>“Campbell is spot-on when he describes results accountability not as techniques but as a demanding practice or form that encourages us to face reality head on.... Campbell’s book makes an important contribution in shining a 'bright light' on the importance of local accountability and results in our public sphere, and that we can all make a difference in improving the quality of life and justice in our respective communities."</i>-<i><b>Journal of Urban Affairs</b></i>
David Campbell recounts compelling stories of the workarounds, sidesteps, informal agreements, and grantor–grantee negotiations that help policy initiatives succeed as intended. The settings include schools, human services departments, workforce development agencies, and community-based organizations. He explains why it is difficult, though necessary, to translate locally attuned implementation dynamics into accountability metrics for distant funders.
Drawing on 2,000 interviews, Democracy’s Hidden Heroes is the culmination of decades spent talking to people who must reconcile bureaucratic and community cultures. Campbell’s grounded approach and balanced perspective bring fresh insights to the analysis of policy implementation, public management, and results accountability, while offering both cautionary advice and a hopeful prognosis.