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PowerWhere Is It? |
eBook Available
Has power moved out of institutions into the hands of powerful individuals?
In this informative critique of contemporary leadership, renowned political scientist Donald Savoie poses and answers the crucial questions: where is power located, and who is in charge?
In recent years it has become extremely difficult to pinpoint the location of political and economic power, making it complicated to determine who is to blame for political and economic catastrophes and leading to increased disenchantment with Western politicians and bureaucrats. Power considers how forces such as globalization, the new media, the changing role of the courts in parliamentary democracies, the partisanship of political parties in shaping policy, and collapsing boundaries between governments and within government departments have caused citizens to feel their countries are less democratic. Savoie argues that power is leaving institutions and organizations and going to powerful individuals in both the public and private sectors, who often push aside formal processes in order to drive change.
A startling and clarifying examination of changes in modern society, Power unravels the tangled web of influences that have put the power to make important decisions in the hands of the few to show why our governing institutions are no longer effective.
In recent years it has become extremely difficult to pinpoint the location of political and economic power, making it complicated to determine who is to blame for political and economic catastrophes and leading to increased disenchantment with Western politicians and bureaucrats. Power considers how forces such as globalization, the new media, the changing role of the courts in parliamentary democracies, the partisanship of political parties in shaping policy, and collapsing boundaries between governments and within government departments have caused citizens to feel their countries are less democratic. Savoie argues that power is leaving institutions and organizations and going to powerful individuals in both the public and private sectors, who often push aside formal processes in order to drive change.
A startling and clarifying examination of changes in modern society, Power unravels the tangled web of influences that have put the power to make important decisions in the hands of the few to show why our governing institutions are no longer effective.
Details
312 Pages, 6 x 9
ISBN 9780773537583
May 2010
Formats: Paperback, eBook
"Donald Savoie advances the study of political power by considering vital issues in contemporary Western democracies, while providing excellent insights in an engaging style. This is an ambitious undertaking and will spark a necessary debate." Peter Aucoin, Department of Political Science, Dalhousie University
"An astute and accomplished specialist of government, Donald Savoie has one of the most comprehensive understandings of our system of government. The extensive conversations with senior government and private sector officials included in this book are helpful and revealing. Power offers pertinent reflections on how democracy has evolved in this age of public distrust, globalization, and world-market economy." Robert Asselin, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
"Power is not a polemic written to blast one particular side but it is also not a sleepy political science text designed to fit on a university shelf to gather dust. It is a thoughtful and compelling book that explains the shifting power structure of our democracy." CBC
"This is a useful, informed analysis of an exceptionally important development in the modern democratic policy process. Summing Up: Highly recommended." CHOICE
"[Power: Where Is It] is an Important book... [it] draws attention to fundamental problems which every modern democracy will have to confront." Times Literary Supplement
"An astute and accomplished specialist of government, Donald Savoie has one of the most comprehensive understandings of our system of government. The extensive conversations with senior government and private sector officials included in this book are helpful and revealing. Power offers pertinent reflections on how democracy has evolved in this age of public distrust, globalization, and world-market economy." Robert Asselin, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
"Power is not a polemic written to blast one particular side but it is also not a sleepy political science text designed to fit on a university shelf to gather dust. It is a thoughtful and compelling book that explains the shifting power structure of our democracy." CBC
"This is a useful, informed analysis of an exceptionally important development in the modern democratic policy process. Summing Up: Highly recommended." CHOICE
"[Power: Where Is It] is an Important book... [it] draws attention to fundamental problems which every modern democracy will have to confront." Times Literary Supplement
Donald J. Savoie holds the Canada Research Chair in Public Administration and Governance and is a professor of public administration at Université de Moncton.
Power
Donald J. Savoie
Table of Contents
Preface ix
Introduction 3
1 Globalization: I Am Not to Blame, the Devil Made Me Do It 19
2 The Private Sector: Someone Now Has Power, but Who? 47
3 Power Operating above the Fray 67
4 The Shifting Power of Persuasion: Political Parties, the Media, Permanent Political Campaigns, and Polls 86
5 When Transparency Meets Power 106
6 Revisiting Governing from the Centre 129
7 The New Bureaucrats: Short-Order Cooks 152
8 Soft Power: Who Has It? 170
9 Our Institutions Are Melting the Canadian Way: With a Whisper, Not a Bang 193
10 Looking to Personalism for Answers 213
11 The Setting or the Individual? 230
Notes 243
Index 283
Donald J. Savoie
Table of Contents
Preface ix
Introduction 3
1 Globalization: I Am Not to Blame, the Devil Made Me Do It 19
2 The Private Sector: Someone Now Has Power, but Who? 47
3 Power Operating above the Fray 67
4 The Shifting Power of Persuasion: Political Parties, the Media, Permanent Political Campaigns, and Polls 86
5 When Transparency Meets Power 106
6 Revisiting Governing from the Centre 129
7 The New Bureaucrats: Short-Order Cooks 152
8 Soft Power: Who Has It? 170
9 Our Institutions Are Melting the Canadian Way: With a Whisper, Not a Bang 193
10 Looking to Personalism for Answers 213
11 The Setting or the Individual? 230
Notes 243
Index 283
