Challenges of Modern Challenges of Modern GovernanceGovernance

Political Science 342 Political Science 342

Douglas BrownDouglas Brown

January 2010January 2010

Three converging challenges Three converging challenges

GlobalizationGlobalization

Political Culture ChangesPolitical Culture Changes

New Public ManagementNew Public Management

Challenges to…Challenges to…

The role of the stateThe role of the state

How society defines itselfHow society defines itself

Thinking about politics as the Thinking about politics as the interaction of state and societyinteraction of state and society

GlobalizationGlobalization

Both a new and an old phenomenonBoth a new and an old phenomenonHas economic, political and cultural Has economic, political and cultural aspectsaspectsThere’s a problem separating rhetoric from There’s a problem separating rhetoric from realityrealityIs globalization always increasing, or can it Is globalization always increasing, or can it shrink?shrink?Is Canada uniquely exposed to Is Canada uniquely exposed to globalization ?globalization ?

Defining GlobalizationDefining GlobalizationNot new but intensifying…Not new but intensifying… InternationalizationInternationalization LiberalizationLiberalization UniversalizationUniversalization WesternizationWesternization

What is relatively new …What is relatively new … ““Deep integration” of marketsDeep integration” of markets External influence on all aspects of domestic External influence on all aspects of domestic

policypolicy Commitment of all major powers to conceptCommitment of all major powers to concept

Economic globalizationEconomic globalizationIncreasing international trade in goods and Increasing international trade in goods and services, increasing direct foreign investmentservices, increasing direct foreign investment

Globally integrated production by transnational Globally integrated production by transnational corporationscorporations

Global capital market of much greater size and Global capital market of much greater size and speedspeed

All of the aboveAll of the above contribute to much greater contribute to much greater private and public sector competition, in even private and public sector competition, in even the smallest of firms and markets the smallest of firms and markets

Globalization – Political and Globalization – Political and Cultural AspectsCultural Aspects

Intensifying of international governanceIntensifying of international governance WTO, regional trade agreementsWTO, regional trade agreements United Nations agenciesUnited Nations agencies Human rights movementHuman rights movement Environmental agreementsEnvironmental agreements

Global markets for cultural products/ global Global markets for cultural products/ global diffusion of cultural and social trendsdiffusion of cultural and social trends

Reaction:Reaction: “Global Civil Society” and the anti- “Global Civil Society” and the anti-globalization movementglobalization movement

Rhetoric versus RealityRhetoric versus Reality

How much is it neo-liberal ideology versus How much is it neo-liberal ideology versus actual facts on the ground ?actual facts on the ground ?Globalization can be a form of Globalization can be a form of determinism -- “end-of-ideology” determinism -- “end-of-ideology” Not the same intensity or impact Not the same intensity or impact everywhere everywhere Especially strong in Anglo worldEspecially strong in Anglo world Resisted in Russia, parts of Africa, Islamic Resisted in Russia, parts of Africa, Islamic

countries, parts of Latin Americacountries, parts of Latin America

Canada and GlobalizationCanada and Globalization

Strong exposure: Strong exposure: Anglo culture Anglo culture North American settingNorth American setting trading nationtrading nation

Cause and effect: sorting out continental Cause and effect: sorting out continental from globalfrom global

Social impacts: income polarization, de-Social impacts: income polarization, de-industrialization?industrialization?

Political Culture changesPolitical Culture changes

Post-material valuesPost-material values

Politics of identity and “recognition”Politics of identity and “recognition”

The “rights” revolutionThe “rights” revolution

Decline of deferenceDecline of deference

Discontent with representative politicsDiscontent with representative politics

Post-material valuesPost-material values

Placing value on equality, recognition (of Placing value on equality, recognition (of identity), environment, rightsidentity), environment, rightsLess emphasis on “bread and butter” Less emphasis on “bread and butter” concernsconcernsStronger in those born after the 1960s, Stronger in those born after the 1960s, those with more education, and with new those with more education, and with new CanadiansCanadiansTaking a back seat now (2008-09 Taking a back seat now (2008-09 recession) to economic/material politics?recession) to economic/material politics?

Politics of Identity and Politics of Identity and RecognitionRecognition

Differences matter, universalism not Differences matter, universalism not enoughenoughFeminism, sexual revolution, immigration, Feminism, sexual revolution, immigration, post-colonialism -- all contributing effectspost-colonialism -- all contributing effectsThe state should reflect and encourage The state should reflect and encourage diversity, which can mean different diversity, which can mean different treatment for different peopletreatment for different peopleBut diverse treatment can provoke a But diverse treatment can provoke a conservative backlashconservative backlash

Canadian Identity Politics Canadian Identity Politics

Quebec nationalismQuebec nationalism Aboriginal rightsAboriginal rights MulticulturalismMulticulturalism Womens’ movementWomens’ movement Rights of disabledRights of disabled Gay, Lesbian and other sexual Gay, Lesbian and other sexual

orientation identificationorientation identification

Other political culture changesOther political culture changes

Decline of deference….distrust of Decline of deference….distrust of elite accommodation, desire for more elite accommodation, desire for more diverse and more direct diverse and more direct representation, more open, representation, more open, accountable and participatory accountable and participatory governmentgovernment

Is it having lasting effect?Is it having lasting effect?

New Public ManagementNew Public Management

Reaction to fiscal crisis of the 1980sReaction to fiscal crisis of the 1980s

Reaction to bureaucratic excessReaction to bureaucratic excess

An International trend with three main goals:An International trend with three main goals: Greater strategic oversight of government by Greater strategic oversight of government by

elected officialselected officials More accountability for what is done in government, More accountability for what is done in government,

according to pre-set objectivesaccording to pre-set objectives More competition in the provision of public goods More competition in the provision of public goods

and servicesand services

Examples of NPM…1Examples of NPM…1

““Steering, not rowing” in terms of overall Steering, not rowing” in terms of overall approachapproach

Devolution & deregulation of operations Devolution & deregulation of operations

Managerial contracts Managerial contracts

Results-based accountabilityResults-based accountability

Performance measurementPerformance measurement

Program review and expenditure restraintProgram review and expenditure restraint

Examples of NPM …2Examples of NPM …2

Special Operating AgenciesSpecial Operating Agencies

Out-sourcingOut-sourcing

Commercialization and privatizationCommercialization and privatization

Internal marketsInternal markets

Partnerships with civil society Partnerships with civil society organizations, as well as businessorganizations, as well as business

NPM: NPM: Limits to reform and next stepsLimits to reform and next steps

Most social and economic policy and programs Most social and economic policy and programs transformed transformed Some shrinking back from excessive market Some shrinking back from excessive market approachesapproachesInternational movement somewhat discredited International movement somewhat discredited by association with “Washington consensus” and by association with “Washington consensus” and fallout of 2008 financial crisis.fallout of 2008 financial crisis.Continued need to “do more with less”Continued need to “do more with less”Continued need to engage citizens, partner with Continued need to engage citizens, partner with civil societycivil society

ConclusionsConclusions

Three trends: globalization, political Three trends: globalization, political culture, new public managementculture, new public management

Some convergence in root causes (e.g. Some convergence in root causes (e.g. forms of liberal ideas)forms of liberal ideas)

Definite similarities in how the ideas are Definite similarities in how the ideas are spread and their impact on Canadaspread and their impact on Canada

All three at once: present a significant All three at once: present a significant challenge to policy-makerschallenge to policy-makers