Challenges to liberal democratic governance: New developments and challenges to policy-making and public management

Recent shifts in world politics may be seen, from the perspective of liberal democracies, as a process whereby forms of governance previously often condemned as populist, autocratic and/or illiberal acquire increasing... [ view full abstract ]

Recent shifts in world politics may be seen, from the perspective of liberal democracies, as a process whereby forms of governance previously often condemned as populist, autocratic and/or illiberal acquire increasing influence and even become part of the mainstream. Parties and attitudes openly defying the liberal democratic orthodoxy are on the rise, putting the business-as-usual of politics and policy making under growing pressures even in those countries where such ‘unorthodox’ politicians have not achieved electoral power.
Issues like immigration, law and order, and critiques of the basic pillars of international cooperation (such as the UN, the NATO or the EU), have become very salient ones on political agendas across many countries. Populist politicians promise quick fixes to complex problems, and actively use the media to convey criticisms about the slowness and ineffectiveness of mainstream policy-making.
The panel seeks to reflect upon these changes from the perspectives of academic research by asking: What are the actual effects of these rapidly emerging challenges on governance, policy-making and public management? And how do those issues interact with the more ‘conventional’ policy frameworks such as wicked problems, social inclusion or fragmentation? In particular, how and why are policy agendas and modes of policy formulation changing as a result of the above developments? Can evidence-based policy making cope with the growing trend towards ‘ignorance and passion based’ policies? How much is the ethos of professional and independent public service affected by anti-elitist sentiments and public discontent? Do we need to adjust our concepts and theories that were used in the past to describe and understand mainstream Western type governance? Which are the most useful concepts to understand the current trends and changing modes of governance? And what is the future path and role of public administration reforms in this context?
These and related issues will be discussed by leading academics, coming from diverse geographical and politico-administrative contexts.