Political Governance Flashcards
Challenges to Governance
So far, Governance was conducted in a more closed/national environment
-> European integration and globalization has shifted this notion
These trends has two consequences:
o 1. New problems on the national level
o 2. Extension of governance to a supra-national level
Political input process is often neglected -> we need a connection between democratic theory and theory of political governance
Though: Globalization is the biggest problem
Political Governance
the steering actions of political authorities as they deliberately attempt to shape socio economic structures and processes
Two Dimensions of Political Governance
o Governance as a set of measures for achieving a subjectively and intentionally defined objective
o Governance as integrating mechanisms for the coordination of functionally differentiated social systems
Different development phases of the systems theory
o Preservation of structures (Parson)
Preservation of the systematic structure by functional efforts
o Generation of structures (early Luhmann)
Generation of structures by political processes
o Maintenance of structures (late Luhmann)
Autopoiesis, maintenance of structures and learning ability
o Learning ability of systems (Willke)
Contextual governance
Contextual Governance – Systems Theory in Political Sciences
o Systems appear as actors
o The task of the political system is in fact the governance of other functional systems
o Social systems can intentionally cause irritations for other systems by changing their systemic environment
Action Theory:
o Basis on the methodological individualism: All phenomena can be explained by individual actions
Action Theory:
o Premises:
Decision makers must be individuals
Individuals are taking rational decisions
Individuals develop their individual preferences
Individuals are also taking actions in social relations if that serves their own objectives
Action Theory:
o Consequences for political governance:
Governance takes place within relations between actors
Subjective rationality of the actors and the influence of the situation (also institutions) onto the decision process of actors have to be considered
As a consequence -> the conditions under which an actor behaves have to be analyzed
Action Centered Institutionalism:
Combines Systems Theory with Action Theory elements
Main assumptions:
o Not institutions but individuals are acting (methodological individualism)
o Often, the acting of the individuals is predetermined by the institutional context so deeply that a recourse on a single individual can be neglected
o Observation of complex actors can reduce the complexity of governance situations to a degree which is analytically treatable
o Formalisation with game theoretical assumptions is helpful for understanding governance situations
The Steering Capacity of the State:
The guiding functions of the state:
o The function of orientation
o The function of organization
o The function of mediation
o The function of last decision
The Steering Capacity of the State:
The capacity of the state to steer strongly depends on:
o The specific policy field and its governmentability
o The specific institutional conditions
o The capacity for strategy formulation of associations
o The applied instruments: force, regulation, money, information, cooperation, etc.
Government Failures and Policy Failures:
The general notion is that of a crisis of the state and the loss of state control
Possible reasons:
o Increasing internationalization of policies
o Increasing importance of international organizations
o Decreasing possibilities to intervene in entrepreneurial activities
o Decreasing financial scope of actions of the public sector
o Dissatisfaction with politics in economy and society
o Disability to provide essential public goods in an efficient and effective manner
Systems Theory 1
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Systems Theory 2
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Action Centered Institutionalism Model
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