Provides an evaluation of strategic management in public governance in Europe
Presents case study analysis of developments in the European Union and its member states to reveal how strategic management is being applied in practice
Demonstrates how multi-level involvement, participation issues and different national contexts affect the application of strategic management.
This book investigates the role and effectiveness of strategic management within public governance in Europe. Using findings from qualitative studies, it explores the governance processes at the level of the European Union as a supranational institution, and the level of national governments. It presents empirical research that reveals fresh insights into the extent to which the public, effective government, and desirable societies are interrelated in individual Member States. Further, it enables the authors to critically analyse and develop the concept of the 'Strategic State', and to introduce the idea of 'credible government' that lays out a pathway to effective governance. This book argues for the need to develop more effective multi-level governance that combines unity of strategic purpose at the European level with strategic leadership and mobilisation at the national level. It will appeal to practitioners in addition to scholars in the fields of public policy, public managementand European Union studies.