Governing for the Future
Designing Democratic Institutions for a Better Tomorrow
Published on 9. November 2016
Book
Hardback
576 pages
978-1-78635-056-5 (ISBN)
Description
This book is about governing well for the future. It investigates the nature of, and the conditions for, prudent long-term democratic governance in a dynamic, complex, and uncertain world, the reasons why such governance is politically challenging, and how such challenges can best be tackled. In particular, it addresses the problem of 'short-termism' - or a 'presentist bias' - in policy-making; that is, the risk of governments placing undue weight on near-term considerations at the expense of a society's overall long-term welfare. As such, the book traverses both normative and empirical issues. The approach is primarily qualitative rather than quantitative.
Reviews / Votes
Boston presents readers with a comprehensive investigation of the nature of prudent, long-term democratic government and the conditions for it to succeed in a fast-changing, complex, and challenging world. The author has organized the fourteen chapters that make up the main body of his text in four parts devoted to the challenge of long-term democratic governance, principles and proposals for improving long-term democratic governance, assessing the options for improving long-term democratic governance, and taking care of tomorrow today. The author is a faculty member of the Victorian University of Wellington, New Zealand. -- Annotation (c)2017 * (protoview.com) *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Bingley
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Emerald Publishing Limited
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
974 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78635-056-5 (9781786350565)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2016
Emerald Publishing Limited
€143.99
Available for download
Person
Jonathan Boston, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Content
Introduction: What This Book Is About
A Brief Overview
PART I: THE CHALLENGE OF LONG-TERM DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
1. Intertemporal Policy-Making In Advanced Democracies: The Risk Of A Presentist Bias
2. The Presentist Bias: Conceptualizing And Assessing The Problem
3. Probing The Causes Of The Presentist Bias
4. The Policy Dimensions Of The Presentist Bias
PART 2: PRINCIPLES AND PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVING LONG-TERM DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
5. Foundations For Prudent Long-Term Governance
6. Countering The Presentist Bias: Surveying The Options
PART III: ASSESSING THE OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING LONG-TERM DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
7. A Constitution For The Future
8. Committing To A Better Future The Nature, Design, And Limits Of Commitment Devices
9. Insulating Decision-Making From Short-Term Political Pressures
10. Enhancing Voices For The Future The Role Of Independent Institutional Advocates And Guardians
11. Advising For A Better Future Evidence, Metrics, Frameworks, And Institutions
12. Designing And Embedding A Strategic Foresight Capability
13. Creating The Political Conditions For Policy Investments: Enhancing Trust, Shared Goals, And Patience
PART IV: TAKING CARE OF TOMORROW TODAY
14. Towards A Better Tomorrow Enhancing The Capacity Of Advanced Democracies To Navigate, Shape, And Protect The Future
Appendix: Research: Background And Methods
Bibliography
Index
A Brief Overview
PART I: THE CHALLENGE OF LONG-TERM DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
1. Intertemporal Policy-Making In Advanced Democracies: The Risk Of A Presentist Bias
2. The Presentist Bias: Conceptualizing And Assessing The Problem
3. Probing The Causes Of The Presentist Bias
4. The Policy Dimensions Of The Presentist Bias
PART 2: PRINCIPLES AND PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVING LONG-TERM DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
5. Foundations For Prudent Long-Term Governance
6. Countering The Presentist Bias: Surveying The Options
PART III: ASSESSING THE OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING LONG-TERM DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
7. A Constitution For The Future
8. Committing To A Better Future The Nature, Design, And Limits Of Commitment Devices
9. Insulating Decision-Making From Short-Term Political Pressures
10. Enhancing Voices For The Future The Role Of Independent Institutional Advocates And Guardians
11. Advising For A Better Future Evidence, Metrics, Frameworks, And Institutions
12. Designing And Embedding A Strategic Foresight Capability
13. Creating The Political Conditions For Policy Investments: Enhancing Trust, Shared Goals, And Patience
PART IV: TAKING CARE OF TOMORROW TODAY
14. Towards A Better Tomorrow Enhancing The Capacity Of Advanced Democracies To Navigate, Shape, And Protect The Future
Appendix: Research: Background And Methods
Bibliography
Index