Elgar Handbooks in Public Administration and Management – serie

Merging governance studies and data science, this Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of how these fields interact with each other, driving a greater understanding of and guidance for the data-driven transformation of government.Bringing together contributions from leading scholars and practitioners, the Handbook shows how data science can improve decision-making, enhance services, and increase transparency and accountability in government. The authors cover a broad spectrum of techniques, such as predictive modelling and analyzing public sentiments in real time, which are useful tools for today's public administrators. They also address the ethical challenges, privacy issues, and need for transparency when automating decisions. The Handbook provides in-depth analysis and insights into both the benefits and complexities of employing data science in public settings, creating a dialogue on the responsible use of data science in governance.The Handbook on Governance and Data Science is a vital resource for students and scholars of technology and data science, regulation and governance, public policy and political science, and public administration. It is also valuable for policymakers working in innovation policy and data science governance and management.

This Research Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of scholarship on open government, with insights into novel concepts, approaches and trends. Expert editors and contributing authors explore how the emergence of digital technologies has accelerated the promotion of open governments across the globe, as well as research developments in the field.Chapters cover the three main pillars of open government; transparency, participation and collaboration; and delineate their practical applications in a wide array of policy domains. Authors expand on the progress of open government implementation and evaluate emerging trends, such as blockchain technology, user-centered design and user experience, as well as mis- and disinformation. This Research Handbook highlights the impact of open government initiatives and creates a better understanding of their various components and results, and the interplay between the two.This is an essential reference for academics, researchers and students of public policy, administration, regulation and governance. It is also of great interest to policymakers and governmental actors interested in innovation and emergent technologies, and how these are applicable to global policies and open governments.

This authoritative Research Handbook,/i> provides detailed insights into international bureaucracies, examining their diverse roles, powers and resources, as well as their implications for both national and international politics and policies. It acknowledges the crucial role of public administration in maintaining robust political systems, with a view to answering the question: to what extent and under what conditions may such administrative bodies exert influence on politics and policies?Leading scholars review a broad body of existing literature, outlining how the effectiveness of international bureaucracies is profoundly shaped by the capacity of international bureaucracies to operate independently of member-state governments. They illustrate the extent and restraints of bureaucracies’ autonomy, covering key theories including bureaucratic politics, public service bargains, institutionalism, organization theory, organizational learning and social constructivism. Ultimately, the Research Handbook advances theoretical and empirical research in the field while establishing agendas for future study.This is a necessary read for scholars and students of politics and public policy, particularly those in the fields of regulation and governance and public administration and management.

Adopting an integrated approach, this Handbook examines the design, organization, implementation and evaluation of public service delivery. Emphasizing the complex and dynamic nature of public services, it draws on cutting-edge research to identify responses to the unique challenges of the field.Expert contributors analyze the evolution of theoretical approaches and best practices for public service delivery in light of fundamental changes to the socio-political and cultural environment. Tracing connections between different aspects, they illustrate the flexible, collaborative and innovative modes of delivery that are supplementing traditional centralized models. Chapters investigate how to manage important considerations including citizen expectations, economic efficiency, democratic accountability and limitations on capacity. Ultimately, the Handbook demonstrates that in order to be effective, public service delivery must be adapted to specific local and national contexts.Examining both the theory and practice of public service delivery, this Handbook is an essential resource for students and scholars in public administration and management, public sector economics and public policy. It will also be of great use to professionals in government and NGOs seeking to optimize public service delivery.

This essential Handbook provides an overview of the study and practice of public management in Latin America and the Caribbean. Expert authors discuss the evolution of topics, instruments, methods and research in the field, highlighting the continued influence of past events on present-day politics.Chapters examine key challenges facing governments in Latin America and the Caribbean, shedding light on the lasting effects of colonization and critically evaluating the application of theories and ideas originating in the Global North to this context. They demonstrate the diversity of approaches to public management in countries with different social, cultural, and historical backgrounds, drawing on case studies ranging from the established democracy of Costa Rica to the enduring autocracy of Cuba. Ultimately, the Handbook looks toward the future of public administration in the region, exploring avenues for tackling inequalities, fostering economic growth, and promoting democratic values.Academics and students in public administration and management, public policy, and international politics will benefit from the novel insights in this Handbook. It is also a vital resource for policymakers, government officials and NGOs looking to bolster development in the region.

This expansive Handbook discusses key conceptual and theoretical issues in politicization and patronage. With contributions from leading academics across the globe, it presents diverse perspectives on politicization and patronage practices, exploring the positive and negative implications of both concepts.Chapters analyze detailed case studies from a range of countries, regime types and levels of governance, providing critical insights into the variations of politicization and patronage practices and advocating for a clear differentiation between the two terms. Expert authors examine the methodologies involved in the study of these concepts, including prosopography, experimental methods and the difficulties of conducting research within authoritarian regimes. The Handbook emphasizes the recent increase in both patronage and politicization, particularly within democratic regimes, and makes timely suggestions for future research.This comprehensive Handbook is vital for students and scholars of public administration and management, public policy, political science and regulation and governance. It is also a valuable resource for government officials and public policymakers.

This Handbook connects blockchain innovation with the discipline and practice of public governance. Drawing on the expertise and perspectives of diverse academic communities and practitioners, it provides insights on managing, utilizing, regulating, and governing blockchain in this context.Bridging the gap between theory and practice, chapters explore whether blockchain can truly transform public governance and under what conditions its adoption can be successful. It examines blockchain’s potential to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in areas such as public finance, healthcare, education, identity management, and regulatory compliance. Contributors analyze both the opportunities and challenges of integrating blockchain into governance structures, addressing key managerial, regulatory, and technical considerations. Through real-world case studies, chapters investigate the specific institutional, technological, and organizational conditions required for meaningful impact. They detail a roadmap for leveraging blockchain effectively in public governance, ultimately helping decision-makers to navigate its complexities and maximize its potential.Multidisciplinary in scope, this Handbook is a crucial resource for scholars and students of public policy, innovation and technology, and governance. It is also a beneficial read for policymakers and practitioners in public administration and management for its discussion of the pressing policy challenges associated with the use of blockchain in the public sector.

This unique Research Handbook offers an overview of contemporary electronic government and digital public administration and management, encouraging innovative inquiry and exploring new avenues for research in the field. Bringing together international scholars and researchers, the book illustrates the broad and changeable technological context of public organizations, public services and governance from a range of theoretical and methodological perspectives. Chapters investigate key developments in information technology, including social media, big data, cyberinfrastructure and blockchain technologies, and investigate their implications for the traditional goals and values of public administration and management. Examining timely subjects of discussion, including data sharing, public service transactions and trust, citizen engagement and tribal governances, chapters illustrate the global dimensions of technological governance in a variety of settings, including Brazil, Nepal, South Africa, the US, and Small Island Developing States. Representing global scholarship in the field, this Research Handbook is critical reading for scholars and researchers exploring the latest developments in e-governments, as well as graduate students in public management and administration. Public sector managers and policymakers will also benefit from its practical insights into utilizing information tech.

This timely Handbook unpacks the underlying common factors that give rise to corrupting environments. Investigating opportunities to deliver ethical public policy, it proposes strategies for building integrity and diminishing corruption in public administration. Beginning with an exploration of contemporary global trends in public administration and its vulnerability to corruption today, this Handbook sheds light on the avenues for corruption to access health care, education and local government sectors, as well as the effects of corruption on environmental protection, policing and the justice system and border administration. Employing an international approach, chapters consider how different national administrative environments shape corruption, and how governments seek to eradicate the unique problems that it poses. It concludes by scrutinizing the responses taken by public administrators in dealing with corrupt activities and highlighting opportunities to build integrity in the future.Featuring both theoretical illuminations and real-word insights, this Handbook is key reading for academics and researchers of public administration and management. Policymakers will also benefit from the proposed strategies for tackling public administrative corruption and building integrity.Contributors include: E. Butkevicien , M. Camerer, E. Dávid-Barrett, G. De Graaf, M. Fotaki, G. Fuller, A. Goldsmith, A. Graycar, D. Harris, M. Heide, S.P. Heyneman, M. Howlett, L.W.J.C. Huberts, S.K. Ivkovic, D. Jancsics, A. Jiang, M. Johnston, M.W. Katusiimeh, N. Kirby, E. Kolthoff, C. Lui, M. Macaulay, G. Marcetic, T. Minh Le, V. Morkevi ius, G. Mugellini, T. Oberman, B.J. Palifka, M. Pyman, J.S.T. Quah, T.H.S. Rice, B. Sarican, A. Shaipov, W. Slingerland, K. Smith, R.G. Smith, A.R. Timilsina, E. Vaidelyt , Z. van der Wal, A. van Montfort, T. Vian, S.R. Vidli ka, J.-P. Villeneuve, L. Vyas, R. White, A.M. Wu, A. Yates

This timely Handbook examines performance management research specific to the public sector and its contexts, and provides suggestions for future developments in the field. It demonstrates the need for performance management to be reconceptualized as a core component of business both within and across organizations, and how it must be embedded in both strategic decision-making and as a day-to-day leadership and management practice in order to be effective.Addressing multiple levels of analysis, the Handbook shows how performance management can enable high performance if governance, systems, organization and individual components are aligned. Written by an international team of both academics and practitioners, chapters offer insights into why changes in practice need to occur, how to make such changes possible, and what these changes require from a practical standpoint. The Handbook also highlights current limitations in public sector performance management and suggests new initiatives for performance management frameworks.Scholars of public policy in human resources, administration and management looking for exemplary current research in these fields will find this Handbook invaluable. It will also be of interest to public administration and human resources practitioners looking to develop new practice and create new ways of thinking and behaving in the aftermath of global upheaval.

This insightful Handbook presents readers with a comprehensive range of original research within the field of Collaborative Public Management (CPM). As a central area of study and practice in public administration, the Handbook explores the most important questions facing collaboration and provides future research directions and new areas of study.Featuring expert contributions from a diverse range of scholars, this Handbook showcases the emergence of collaborative governance research and charts connections among the multiple arenas of CPM; including public/private partnerships, emergency management and climate change management. Chapters cover the fundamental practices and limitations of CPM as well as future possibilities. Reflecting on leading theories and research, the Handbook argues that CPM is both an evolving field, as well as a varied and maturing one that is worthy of continued exploration.The Handbook will be a valuable resource to scholars and graduate students in subjects such as public administration and public policy, who are interested in examining current research and approaches within the field. The examination of collaborative initiatives will also be beneficial to administrative leaders in public services who want to understand how to lead and manage more dynamic arrangements.

This Handbook comprehensively explores research methods in public administration, management and policy. Exploring the richness of both traditional and contemporary methods and strategies for making progress in the field, it provides an advanced toolkit for understanding the science of public administration and management in the 21st century.Bringing together leading international academics and experts, contributors focus on innovative research architectures, useful research techniques and best practices for the study of modern bureaucracy and the behaviour of its agents and stakeholders. Chapters look for new frontiers of the discipline with quantitative and qualitative tools and explore empirical studies to support theoretical insights. Each chapter of the Handbook provides specific examples of how these methods are used, enabling a practical understanding of a variety of intellectual paths and techniques for improving the study of modern governance. Comprehensive and enlightening, this Handbook will be essential for academics of public policy and administration looking to enhance their research methods, as well as students learning the basics of research in this field. It will also benefit government experts, civil servants and policymakers who need to better understand how the public sector can benefit from public administration methodologies.

This ground-breaking Handbook on Gender and Public Administration brings together leading experts in a rapidly growing field of study to explore the emerging contexts of gender and public administration. Capturing the many facets of this dynamic trend, the book explores gender equity and further examines masculinity, intersectionality and beyond binary conceptions of gender. Chapters written by expert contributors provide an in-depth analysis of the history, theory and context of gender equity alongside the intersection of gender and traditional public administration topics such as budgeting, personnel, organizations, ethics, performance and representative democracy. Furthermore, it investigates gender dynamics in international, governmental, non-profit, policy and academic contexts, highlights the progress made, and identifies the ongoing challenges. This timely Handbook will be an excellent resource for scholars in public administration who wish to explore gender and the broader questions of social equity, as well as scholars new to the field of public administration and gender. Following a growing movement to incorporate gender into public administration curriculum, this book will also prove a useful guide for faculty providing these courses.

Bringing together over fifty leading global experts, this Research Handbook provides a state-of-the-art overview of research findings regarding Human Resource Management (HRM) in the public sector. Original chapters provide useful insights from two different disciplines: public administration and HRM. They illustrate that the public context of organisations matters and discuss research findings detailing how this plays out in practice.Divided into six distinct parts, this Research Handbook covers the key areas of strategic HRM, the HRM cycle, HRM and the outcomes, linking mechanisms in the HRM value chain, as well as HRM and context. Providing crucial information, Part VI examines the main future challenges for HRM in public organisations and provides extensive knowledge across different areas for future research.This engaging Research Handbook will be an excellent resource for scholars in public administration as well as HRM practitioners and scholars with interests in the public contexts and how this affects HRM. It will also provide obligatory reading for advanced students to understand the distinctiveness of HRM in public organisations.

This cutting-edge Research Handbook brings together international scholars to provide a comprehensive overview of motivation within and beyond the field of public administration. Discussing the implications of contemporary research for theory and practice, it offers suggestions for the development of future research in the field. Contributions offer cross-disciplinary and interdisciplinary insights into the theories that underpin motivation research and how motivation drives decisions across public, nonprofit, and private sector settings, highlighting key sector differences that influence decision-making. Covering a wide range of core motivational topics and subfields relevant to the study of public and nonprofit administration, chapters emphasize the key motivational factors that affect employee recruitment, selection, and retention and how they affect – and are affected by – employee behavior. Providing a wide-ranging coverage of the field, this Research Handbook is critical reading for scholars, researchers, and upper-level students of public administration and policy. It will also benefit practitioners in public and nonprofit organizations in need of a deeper understanding of the links between motivation and employee behavior.

Offering essential interpretations of the surge in recent literature on strategy and public management, this timely and insightful Handbook includes contributions from some of the key figures in the field, focusing on concepts such as strategic management, strategic planning, and strategizing for public purposes. Providing an in-depth examination of strategic public management as a key topic in public management and governance, this Handbook considers the interconnections between strategy, public value, and the state, and the challenges of strategizing collaborative governance. Chapters discuss the role of design-oriented practices in strategic public management, the rise of public innovation labs, business model innovation, and the financial dimension of strategy in the public sector. It also includes case studies from Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States, illustrating the effects of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growth of artificial intelligence on strategic public management. This stimulating Handbook will be essential reading for students and scholars in strategic management, public management, public administration, public policy and politics, and political science. It will also be beneficial for public managers, public administrators, strategizers, local, regional, and national politicians, and network managers.

This innovative Handbook offers a wide-ranging overview of the multi-faceted field of public administration and management. It provides a broad approach to the discipline, addressing the range of descriptive, normative and critical theories required to diagnose public service issues and prescribe administrative action. Chapters assess the state of the field, presenting a comprehensive roadmap for future theoretical development. Featuring contributions from top international experts, the Handbook considers the key theories on the role, function and organization of public administration. It further offers critical insights on the people who work in public management, and a broad range of significant perspectives on the field. Interdisciplinary and comprehensive, it applies leading and emerging theories in public administration and management and applies them to latent and developing issues of public service and the relationship between government and society. This Handbook provides a far-reaching analysis of the field for scholars, researchers and graduate students of public administration and management, particularly those interested in an international or comparative approach to the field. Its theoretical insights will also benefit policymakers and practitioners working in public service provision in need of both trusted and innovative public management solutions.

Holistic in approach, this Handbook’s international range of leading scholars present complementary perspectives, both theoretical and empirically pertinent, to explore recent developments in the field of local and regional governance.With a fresh outlook on the field, this Handbook builds significantly upon the existing literature to clarify the scope of the discipline, as well as providing tools, information, and research questions to better understand and further explore the field. Chapters provide theoretical and empirical context to current debates on local and regional governance and offer competing analytical lenses for studying the field. Topics explored include the intersecting roles, limits, opportunities, and influence of actors, democracy, place, scale, and networks, with examinations of social cohesion, intermunicipal decentralization, and emerging technologies. Particularly close attention is paid to relationships, as the Handbook introduces to the analysis the ways that actors, tiers of government, institutions and multiple jurisdictions exchange resources, coordinate action and produce decisions with collective impact in local and regional governance.Interdisciplinary and international in scope, this Handbook will be an invigorating read for students and scholars looking to better understand contemporary policy, politics and subnational governance at local and regional levels.

This timely Research Handbook explores the handling of city and municipal finances in the 21st century. It examines the impact of the Great Recession and COVID-19 pandemic on cities and municipalities, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and avenues for future progress in city and municipal financial management.Bringing together leading global scholars of public finance and budgeting, economics, law, political science and policy analysis, this Research Handbook scrutinises how cities and municipalities have adapted after crisis periods. It combines theoretical ideas, empirical findings and practical applications, focusing on federalist systems as well as including global case studies from diverse governance contexts. Contributors analyse sources of revenue for cities and municipalities, critical areas of spending, fiscal structure, budgeting, debt, pensions and financial resilience. Forward thinking, it considers the strength and resilience of city and municipal finances in meeting long-term liabilities and responding to short-term crises.This Research Handbook will be an invaluable resource for students and scholars of public finance and administration, urban economics, and political economy. Providing cutting-edge policy recommendations, it will also be a highly useful guide for policy-makers and administrators seeking to effectively guide city and municipal finances.

Reform is a politicized, ideological, sometimes drifting, and chaotic process. As such, what public administration reform means, why it occurs, whose interests it serves, and whether it makes the world a better place, remain contested. Addressing these questions, this major comparative study sheds new light on existing and emerging issues in the field of public administration reform.Through a global range of country-focused case studies, chapters look closely at the key strands of public administration reform, including bureaucratic models, new public management, post-new public management, big data, integrity, and human resources. Spanning the Anglo-Celtic democracies, Brazil, Central Europe, South Asia, and the developing countries of the South Pacific, they analyze how public sectors have been reformed in recent decades, what factors have contributed to this, and what we can learn from these reforms to achieve better governance in the future.Broad in scope and accessible in approach, this topical Handbook will be an invaluable resource to students and scholars of public administration and management and of policy and politics. With practical applications, it will also prove vital to policy-makers concerned with public administration reform, alongside relevant civil servants, think tanks, and pressure groups.

This scholarly Research Handbook captures key observations and analyses within the field of public financial management. It offers much-needed insights into possible future research ventures while presenting contemporary summaries of past studies in this ever-evolving field. Providing a fresh look at traditional and emergent topics such as government accounting and climate-resilient infrastructure systems, this Research Handbook acts as an essential reference point for advanced research pursuits. Chapters articulate the results of state-of-the-art investigative studies conducted by leading international researchers and aptly summarise the acute challenges involved in managing public finances such as debt management. The Research Handbook on Public Financial Management will be valuable for academics and students of public management, politics and economics examining the foundational issues confronting public financial management. It will additionally benefit federal, state, and local government departments seeking to extend and affirm their knowledge.

Making a significant, novel contribution to the burgeoning international literature on the topic, this Handbook charts the various methodological, theoretical, comparative and empirical dimensions of a future research agenda on ministerial and political advisers.With an international approach, a diverse range of expert and emerging scholars perform a thorough sociodemographic analysis of political and ministerial actors across different administrative traditions around the globe. Chapters examine their emergence on the executive stage, the circumstances and various institutional arrangements in which they operate, their contributions as policy workers and their turbulent relationship with the media. Questioning normative stances surrounding corruption in political–administrative relations, this transdisciplinary Handbook provides a constructive, nuanced understanding of the nature and agency of ministerial and political advisers.Addressing both historical and contemporary matters relevant to ministerial and political advisers, this innovative Handbook will prove vital to students and scholars of politics, regulation and governance, public administration, policy and management, and international politics. With fresh and constructive analyses of the field, it will also be a useful resource for private-sector and governmental practitioners seeking insights into the roles and impacts of these advisers.

Measuring governance has become an increasingly important feature of modern societies, with organizations and institutions expected to prove their worth by quantifying their activities and results. This unique Handbook maps historical developments, theoretical conceptions and key approaches, and summarizes what is known about measuring governance from a variety of fields of practice. Peter Triantafillou and Jenny M. Lewis bring together an array of leading international academics to examine how governance is measured across different policy sectors and levels of government. Chapters explore the sociological theory of measurement, the quality of collaborative governance processes, governance in public health care and global development cooperation. The editors and contributors have combined theoretical thinking with empirical findings to support this comprehensive overview of measuring governance, providing a significant contribution to the ongoing discourse in this field.This thought-provoking Handbook will appeal to public administration and public policy professionals, as well as business and government practitioners at a national and international level. It will also prove highly beneficial to students, academics and researchers in governance, social policy, business and management and political science.

This Handbook explores the transformative power of trust for relations within and between governments, parliaments and politicians, administrations and regulatory agencies, courts, societal actors and citizens. Adopting a multi-actor and multi-level perspective, it highlights the centrality of trust in enhancing the resilience, effectiveness and legitimacy of current governance systems.Bringing together a cross-disciplinary team of experts, the Handbook examines the causes, dynamics and effects of trust and distrust in public governance. Authors illustrate the complex interplay between (dis)trust, vulnerability, transparency, power, regulation and control in an era characterised by fluid and inclusive forms of government that require collaboration and a functional balance between trust and distrust to operate. They cover key topics including among others, participation, networks, contracting, technology, crisis governance, and trust reparation. Ultimately, the Handbook explores how to expand the boundaries of future research, and demonstrates that fostering reciprocal relations of functional trust is a fundamental principle of effective governance.The Handbook on Trust in Public Governance is an essential read for students and scholars of public administration and management, political science, policy studies, and public governance. It is also a key resource for policy-makers and government officials seeking to craft strategies that enhance governance legitimacy and resilience.

Following the extensive global impact of COVID-19, this forward-looking Research Handbook examines the pandemic from a public management perspective, exploring the roles and responses of public managers and considering how public organisations will be reshaped in the future.This Research Handbook brings together a wealth of established and early career international scholars who offer summative and comparative analyses of jurisdictions’ pandemic responses, alongside vital in-depth studies of jurisdictional pandemic experiences. Chapters interrogate public management successes and failures in response to the pandemic, the systemic inequalities highlighted by the pandemic, how the pandemic challenged public managers and political leaders, and crucially how the pandemic challenged fundamental concepts of public management. Offering key advice as to how public management can adapt and reorient going forward, this Research Handbook is a vital contribution to the developing discussion and debate taking place within this discipline.Exploring a broad range of key concepts in the field, this book will be an invaluable read for students, academics and researchers of public management, public administration, health care management, sociology and social policy. Providing important data relating to crisis response, this book will also be of practical benefit to public leaders and their professional teams when coordinating action in emergency situations.

Providing a comprehensive overview of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within individual, organizational, and societal contexts, this Handbook explores the multidimensional nature of DEI in public administration. It addresses the considerable influence that governing institutions have on societal norms, and acts as an important resource to inspire inclusion.A diverse collection of chapter authors explores the varying aspects of diversity including race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, and many more. They consolidate essential tools, theories, and frameworks applicable to the study of DEI in various policy and international contexts. Encouraging further research, this Handbook highlights how systemic oppression and inequality are still present in modern society, and it encourages all readers to take active roles in fostering DEI throughout public administration and beyond. The Handbook on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Public Administration is vital for scholars focusing on public administration, public policy, and non-profit management. It is also beneficial for practitioners seeking a clearer understanding of DEI.

This pioneering Research Handbook on Public Management and Artificial Intelligence provides a comprehensive overview of the potentials, challenges, and governance principles of AI in a public management context. Multidisciplinary in approach, it draws on a variety of jurisdictional perspectives and expertly analyses key topics relating to this socio-technical phenomenon.Showcasing contributions by a collection of eminent scholars from across the globe, this Research Handbook presents cutting-edge research on AI in public management. Organised into three parts corresponding with distinct foci of research, it explores the adoption and implementation of AI in public management settings, presents specific case studies and examples of AI in the public sector, and outlines future trends and directions in the evolution of AI adoption and use in public management.Based on empirical research from a global perspective, this Research Handbook will prove invaluable to practitioners, policymakers, and public managers both as users and co-creators of AI-enabled services. Researchers and academics in the fields of organisational innovation, public management, technology, public administration, and public policy will also find this to be an essential read.

This Handbook is your one-stop shop for navigating public administration in the European Union, and understanding how its governance differs vastly from that of unitary states. Gijs Jan Brandsma compiles a diverse range of perspectives to assess the ever-changing institutional architecture of the EU, paying close attention to the interlinking mechanisms between the supranational, national and subnational level.Encompassing the institutions, organisations and policy processes that make up EU public administration, it critically reviews existing literature and presents avenues for future research. Contributors consider a broad spectrum of theoretical approaches to the topic, including federalism, institutionalism, constructivism and organisational theory. The Handbook introduces and discusses specific aspects of European public administration, in particular EU-level institutions, agencies, committees and networks, and their impact on EU governance. Chapters also analyse different stages of the policy cycle and issues surrounding the legitimacy of EU public administration.This essential Handbook is a vital resource for graduate and postgraduate students in the disciplines of European studies, political science and EU law. It will also be of great benefit to academics and public administration practitioners interested in expanding their knowledge of public management, policy and governance.

In this innovative Research Handbook, Arco Timmermans brings together a diverse range of experts to scrutinise the current field of public affairs, what can be learned from it and its compatibility with democracy and open society. Through this multidisciplinary focus, the Research Handbook aims to closely connect the spheres of research and practice within public affairs.Chapters map out the roots and foundations of public affairs, including its status as a discipline and profession, and dissect perspectives on its context, from direct organisational settings to the wider environment. Contributors analyse research for the evidence basis of public affairs, competencies in the field, and the role of ethics, especially in the relationship between lobbying and public interest. Ultimately, this Handbook assesses the current landscape as well as proposing future perspectives in an area where attention to further development is crucial.Providing a nuanced exploration of an expanding field of research and practice, this Research Handbook will prove a vital reference point to scholars and students of public affairs, political science, communication, management science, public administration, and regional government. Its practical applications will also make it relevant to public affairs practitioners, as well as journalists and media professionals looking to build their knowledge of the field.