
Paradoxes of Modernization
Unintended Consequences of Public Policy Reform
Oxford University Press
1st Edition
Published on 17. June 2010
Book
Hardback
292 pages
978-0-19-957354-7 (ISBN)
Description
This book explores the unintended and unanticipated effects associated with 'modernization' projects and tackles the key question that they provoke - why do policy-makers persist in such enterprises in the face of evidence that they tend to fail?
Paradoxes of Modernization first discusses what is meant by 'modernization' and 'unintended consequences', placing public policy reform within more general intellectual and social trends. It presents eight case study 'modernization' projects. Their architects promised faster trains, a more efficient and reactive health service, a more motivated public service, better performing local government, enhanced information for prospective US university students, reduced rates of child malnutrition in developing countries, and a free, open, safe, interconnected cyberspace for people to conduct their social and political life. Each case provides a neat story with a paradox that varies the modernization theme and tackles the question: why was the project pursued? The conclusion categorizes the cases in terms of their outcome, from success to disappointment, and suggests some strategies for a more balanced version of modernization for current and future policy-makers.
Paradoxes of Modernization first discusses what is meant by 'modernization' and 'unintended consequences', placing public policy reform within more general intellectual and social trends. It presents eight case study 'modernization' projects. Their architects promised faster trains, a more efficient and reactive health service, a more motivated public service, better performing local government, enhanced information for prospective US university students, reduced rates of child malnutrition in developing countries, and a free, open, safe, interconnected cyberspace for people to conduct their social and political life. Each case provides a neat story with a paradox that varies the modernization theme and tackles the question: why was the project pursued? The conclusion categorizes the cases in terms of their outcome, from success to disappointment, and suggests some strategies for a more balanced version of modernization for current and future policy-makers.
Reviews / Votes
highly relevant to the modern complex world of evidence-based policy and joined up government. It provides a valuable contribution to the field. * Andrew Steven Gunn, Political Studies Review *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Academics, researchers, and advanced students in Politics, Social Policy, Business and Management, Public Management, Development Studies; Public sector consultants; and Practitioners and policy-makers in government, NGOs, and businesses working under contract to government
Illustrations
Six line and halftones
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
605 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-957354-7 (9780199573547)
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

Helen Margetts | Perri 6 | Christopher Hood
Paradoxes of Modernization
Unintended Consequences of Public Policy Reform
Book
02/2012
Oxford University Press
€95.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
Helen Margetts is Professor of Society and the Internet at the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) and Fellow of Mansfield College, University of Oxford, before which she was Director of the School of Public Policy at UCL. A political scientist specialising in politics and government on the Internet, she has authored and co-authored a wide range of books and articles as well as a series of policy reports for the National Audit Office, including (with Patrick Dunleavy and others) Digital-era Governance (Oxford University Press, 2006); (with Christopher Hood) Tools of Government in the Digital Age (Palgrave Macmillan, 2007); and Government on the Internet (a joint LSE-OII study for the NAO, 2007). She is editor of the new journal Policy and Internet (Berkeley Electronic Press) and is currently researching on-line collective action.
Perri 6 is Professor of Social Policy in the Graduate School of the College of Business, Law and Social Policy at Nottingham Trent University. His recent books include Institutional Dynamics of Culture (ed. with G Mars, Ashgate, 2008), Public Emotions (ed. with S Radstone, C Squire, and A Treacher, Palgrave, 2007), Beyond Delivery (with E Peck, Palgrave, 2006), Managing Networks of Twenty First Century Organisations (with N Goodwin, E Peck, and T Freeman, Palgrave, 2006) and E-governance (Palgrave, 2004). He has published widely on issues such as joined-up government, consumer choice in public services, privacy and data protection, and social networks in journals such as Political Studies, Public Administration, and the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. He is currently researching how different styles of political judgment result in decisions that produce different types of unintended consequences.
Christopher Hood has been Gladstone Professor of Government and Fellow of All Souls College Oxford since 2001 and was Director of the UK Economic and Social Research Council Public Services Research Programme from 2004 to 2010. Before that he held chairs at the London School of Economics and the University of Sydney, New South Wales, and was a lecturer at the University of Glasgow for 14 years. His publications include The Limits of Administration (Wiley, 1976), The Tools of Government (Macmillan, 1983, updated as The Tools of Government in the Digital Age, 2007, with Helen Margetts), The Art of the State (OUP, 1998) and The Politics of Public Service Bargains (OUP, 2006, with Martin Lodge). He is currently working on a book on the politics of blame-avoidance.
Perri 6 is Professor of Social Policy in the Graduate School of the College of Business, Law and Social Policy at Nottingham Trent University. His recent books include Institutional Dynamics of Culture (ed. with G Mars, Ashgate, 2008), Public Emotions (ed. with S Radstone, C Squire, and A Treacher, Palgrave, 2007), Beyond Delivery (with E Peck, Palgrave, 2006), Managing Networks of Twenty First Century Organisations (with N Goodwin, E Peck, and T Freeman, Palgrave, 2006) and E-governance (Palgrave, 2004). He has published widely on issues such as joined-up government, consumer choice in public services, privacy and data protection, and social networks in journals such as Political Studies, Public Administration, and the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. He is currently researching how different styles of political judgment result in decisions that produce different types of unintended consequences.
Christopher Hood has been Gladstone Professor of Government and Fellow of All Souls College Oxford since 2001 and was Director of the UK Economic and Social Research Council Public Services Research Programme from 2004 to 2010. Before that he held chairs at the London School of Economics and the University of Sydney, New South Wales, and was a lecturer at the University of Glasgow for 14 years. His publications include The Limits of Administration (Wiley, 1976), The Tools of Government (Macmillan, 1983, updated as The Tools of Government in the Digital Age, 2007, with Helen Margetts), The Art of the State (OUP, 1998) and The Politics of Public Service Bargains (OUP, 2006, with Martin Lodge). He is currently working on a book on the politics of blame-avoidance.
Editor
Professor of Society and the Internet, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford
Professor of Social Policy, Graduate School, College of Business, Law and Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University
Gladstone Professor of Government and Fellow of All Souls College, University of Oxford
Content
PART 1: UNDERSTANDING MODERNIZATION'S PARADOXES; PART 2: SOCIETAL INNOVATIONS; PART 3: STATE-CENTRED REFORMS; PART 4: MODERNIZATION OF THE STATE; PART 5: CONCLUSION