Accountable Governance: Problems and Promises / Edition 1

by Melvin J. Dubnick, H. George Frederickson

Overview

Public accountability is a hallmark of modern democratic governance and the foundation of the popular performance management movement. Democracy is just an empty exercise if those in power cannot be held accountable in public for their acts and omissions, for their decisions, their policies, and their expenditures.

This book offers a finely detailed and richly informed consideration of accountability in both government and the contemporary world of governance. Twenty-five leading experts cover varying aspects of the accountability movement, including multiple and competing accountabilities, measuring accountability, accountability and democratic legitimacy, and accountability and information technology, and apply them to governments, quasi-governments, non-government organizations, governance organizations, and voluntary organizations. Together they provide the most comprehensive consideration of accountability currently available, with a blend of theoretical, empirical, and applied approaches.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780765623843
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/15/2011
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	6.80(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Melvin J. Dubnick, H. George Frederickson

Table of Contents

Foreword David Mathews vii

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction: The Promises of Accountability Research Melvin J. Dubnick H. George Frederickson xiii

Part I Complex Challenges 1

1 The Challenge of Multiple Accountability: Does Redundancy Lead to Overload? Thomas Schillemans Mark Bovens 3

2 The Tangled Web of Accountability in Contracting Networks: The Case of Welfare Reform Barbara S. Romzek 22

3 Accountability Challenges in Public Sector Contracting for Complex Products Trevor L. Brown Matthew Potoski David M. Van Slyke 42

4 Accountability for Global Governance Organizations Jonathan G.S. Koppell 55

Part II Obstacles to Accountability 79

5 Performance Blight and the Tyranny of Light? Accountability in Advanced Performance Measurement Regimes Christopher Pollitt 81

6 Does Performance Measurement Actually Improve Accountability? Beryl A. Radin 98

7 The Accountability Environment of U.S. Counties Bonnie J. Johnson John C. Pierce Nicholas P. Lovrich 111

Part III Assessing Accountability 127

8 Accountability Institutions and Information in the Policy-Making Process Paul L. Posner Robert Schwartz 129

9 Accountability and Information-Technology Enactment: A Cross-National Perspective Richard K. Ghere 146

Part IV Adapting to Accountability 165

10 Blame Avoidance and Accountability: Positive, Negative, or Neutral? Christopher Hood 167

11 The Challenges of Accountability for International Nongovernmental and Civil-Society Organizations Margaret P. Karns Timothy J. Shaffer Richard K. Ghere 180

12 Accountability in the Nonprofit Sector: Abandoning the One-Size-Fits-All Approach Kevin P. Kearns 197

Part V Strategies 211

13 Watching the Watchers Sally Wheeler 213

14 Accountability and Voluntary Programs Matthew Potoski Aseem Prakash 225

Part VI Rethinking Accountability 239

15 Accountability in Two Non-Western Contexts Sara R. Jordan 241

16 Accountability and a Theory of Representation Ciarán O'Kelly 255

17 Emergent Accountability and Structuration Theory: Implications Kaifeng Yang 269

18 Rethinking the Obsession: Accountability and the Financial Crisis Melvin J. Dubnick Justin O'Brien 282

Conclusion: Taking Stock and Moving Forward Melvin J. Dubnick H. George Frederickson 302

About the Editors and Contributors 304

Name Index 309

Subject Index 319