1: Introduction
No single actor, public or private, has the knowledge and information required to solve complex, dynamic and diversified problems; no actor has an overview sufficient to make the needed instruments effective; no single actor has sufficient action potential to dominate unilaterally. (Kooiman, 2000: 142)
Contemporary societies are faced with a seemingly never-ending torrent of complex, stubborn and sometimes intractable problems and issues. These are diverse in nature, crossing time and space – they can be local, national, global or inter-generational – and their management and resolution challenges public agencies and governments to the utmost. Climate change, sustainable development, health inequalities, asylum seekers, terrorism and crime, poverty and exclusion, poor housing, unemployment and lack of educational attainment are but a few of these ‘wicked issues’ – but they all share a common thread – they do not respect conventional boundaries of profession, organisation and governance. Rather, they are entangled in a complex web of problem definition, causes, solutions, priorities and resources. What is most important is that it has been the increasing recognition by policy makers and governments over a number of years that the management of these types of problems and issues cannot be resolved by single agencies and actors operating independently, instead, they demand collaboration – forms of cooperative behaviour designed to secure the most effective, efficient and responsive outcomes for service users, citizens and communities.
The nature and trajectory of this collaborative imperative has been manifested in different ways in the UK and across the world, but there is little doubt that it will continue to shape the character of future public policy and management.
| May 2022 onwards | Past Year | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 180 | 142 | 4 |
| Full Text Views | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PDF Downloads | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Institutional librarians can find more information about free trials here
We are a leading social science publisher
committed to making a difference.
Bristol University Press and
Policy Press
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk