Core Executives in a Comparative Perspective: Governing in Complex Times (Understanding Governance)

✍ Scribed by Kristoffer Kolltveit (editor), Richard Shaw (editor)

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Year: 2022
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 308
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This book examines the contemporary relevance of the concept of the core executive across a range of constitutional contexts, covering examples from Westminster system, continental Europe, and Scandinavia. Much study of core executives focuses exclusively on the Westminster system, but this book expands that scope to take into account nations where coalition government has been the norm for decades. Focusing on the interaction between the political and administrative executives, the book addresses tensions between the two that have become increasingly apparent in an age of populism and mediatisation.

✦ Table of Contents

Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Figures
List of Tables
Part I: Setting the Scene
Chapter 1: In the Beginning: The Story of a Concept
Introduction
Marking Out the Terrain: A Brief History of the Core Executive
Defining the Core Concept
Why Bother?
Coordination, Coordination, Coordination
Core Executives: Structuring Contemporary Environments
Developments in the Media
Recentring of the Government Apparatus
Coalition Dynamics and the Rise of Populism
Crises and the Core Executive
The Remainder of the Book
References
Chapter 2: Core Executive Studies in the Wild
Introduction
Developments in the Field
What Has Been Studied?
On the Matter of the Dependent Variable
Of Functions and Resources
Research Designs in Core Executive Studies
Comparative Research: Are We There Yet?
Of Parliaments and Presidents
Resolutely Positive?
How Far Has the Core Concept Travelled?
Contemporary Core Executive Studies: Theories and Frameworks
Sketching the Contemporary Core Executive
Towards a More Explicit Theorisation
Conclusion: Mind the Gap
Notes
References
Chapter 3: Court Politics: From Metaphor to Theory
Introduction
Approaches to the Study of Core Executive Government
Core Executive Studies
Prime Ministerial Predominance
Statecraft
High Politics
Onwards to Court Politics
An Interpretive Ethnography
Conclusions
Notes
References
Part II: Core Executives in Westminster Contexts
Chapter 4: Court Politics in an Age of Austerity: David Cameron’s Court, 2010–2016
Introduction
Methods
David Cameron’s Court, 2010–2016
Courtiers
Practices
Craft
Storytelling
Reshuffles, Resignations and Leadership Challenges
The Political Game: Coalition, Barons and Lying
The Coalition Agreement
Baronial Politics
Lying
Informality
Infighting
Loyalty, Betrayal, Leaks and Revenge
Rituals, Language, Gossip, Humour and Bullying
Consequences
Personal
Electoral
Governmental
Conclusions
References
Chapter 5: Ireland’s Core Executive at One Hundred Years of Self-government: Navigating Coalition, Crisis and Complexity
Introduction
Configuring the Core Executive
Coordination: Moving and Shaping Policy Proposals
Developments in the Irish Core Executive
Coalition Dynamics at the Centre of Government
Dealing with Crisis and Complexity
Europeanisation and Brexit
Enduring Economic Crisis and Navigating the Bailout
The COVID-19 Era
Conclusion
References
Chapter 6: New Zealand: The Core Within the Core
Introduction
The New Zealand Core Executive: Changes and Challenges
Rising to the Occasion: Modes, Mechanisms and Instruments
The Core Within the Core: Who Does What and with Which Resources?
The Ministerial Office
The Private Secretary
The Ministerial Adviser
Collegial Cooperation or Trouble in the Office?
The Contemporary State of Play
Conclusion
References
Part III: Core Executives in Continental Countries
Chapter 7: On a Wild Goose Chase? The (Core) Executive in Germany
Introduction
Institutional Setting: The Core Executive in Germany
The Role of the Chancellor and the Chancellery Within the Federal Government
Politico-administrative Relations
Inter-ministerial Coordination and Conflict Resolution
Key Developments: Institutional Stability in a Changing Context?
Crisis Management
Europeanisation and Summitry
Personalisation and Mediatisation
Conclusion
References
Chapter 8: The Netherlands: How Weak Prime Ministers Gain Influence
Introduction: The Puzzle of Weak Prime Ministers
Weak Prime Ministers in Consensual Democracies: The Netherlands
Studying Executive Politics in The Netherlands
From Cabinet as Meeting to Cabinet as Process
Mapping Dutch Court Politics
The Rise of the Prime Minister
Summitry and Europeanisation
Personalisation of Politics
Crisis Management
The Changing Party Landscape
Prime Ministerial Craft
Conclusion: Courts, Influence and Executive Government
References
Part IV: Core Executives in Scandinavia
Chapter 9: The Swedish Executive: Centralising from Afar
Introduction
The Executive Landscape1
Ways and Means of Securing Coordination
Leading the Way for Performative Governance
Ever More Control? Dynamics in Swedish Governance
Central-Local Relations
Central Government Control and Politicisation
Crisis Management
Mediatisation
Concluding Remarks
References
Chapter 10: The Danish Core Executive: From ‘Duopoly’ to ‘Monopoly’?
Introduction
Methods and Data
Actors and Institutions at the Core of Danish Government
Frederiksen’s Structural Changes at the PMO
Coordination of Government Policies and Media Communication
Intra-executive Coordination: Managing Danish Governments
Changes in Coordination in Frederiksen’s Cabinet
Extra-executive Coordination: Portraying the Executive in the Media
Conclusion: How Does the Danish Core Executive Fit into the Core Executive Framework?
References
Chapter 11: The Norwegian Core Executive: Baronial Courts and Inner Circles?
Introduction
Data
Configuration of Actors and Institutions in Norway
The Prime Minister and Prime Minister’s Office
Cabinet Ministers and Cabinet Committees
State Secretaries and Political Advisers
Permanent Secretaries and Communication Professionals
Decision-making and Coordination in the Norwegian Core Executive
Developments in the Norwegian Core Executive
Mediatisation and the Cementation of Baronial Courts
The Inclusion of Populists in Government: Behaving Normally and the Strategy of PM Solberg
Conclusion
References
Part V: Conclusion
Chapter 12: Continuity and Change: Explaining Developments and Looking to the Future
Introduction
Comparing Cores
Institutionalising the Core: Convergence and Divergence
Coordination and Conflict Resolution: Modes, Mechanisms and Instruments
Resources in the Core Executive
The Impact of a Changing World
The Many Faces of Government
Summitry and Political Leadership
Mediatisation and the Core
Taking Stock: 30 Years on, What Have We Learnt?
On the Matter of Relevance and Currency
Down in the Leadership Weeds
Not One Core But Many?
Structure Matters
A Way Ahead: The Future of Core Executive Studies
Theoretical Futures
Methodological Futures
Empirical Futures
Conclusion: Core Executives in Troubling Times
References
Index