Government Reformed: Values and New Political Institutions

This project examines institutional formation and change as evidence of the major re-shaping of government internationally over the last two decades, based on a series of case studies of new institutions established since the late 1980s. The countries investigated include the UK, China, Australia and the USA. Each case study ranges over several questions, for example: What motivated the establishment of new institutions? What have been the objectives of new institutions? What are the principles and values on which new institutions are founded? In addition to looking at broad hypotheses regarding the state and new institutions, the book also draws together practical lessons regarding institutional reform. Thus the cases will be analysed as a group to throw light on such issues as: are there patterns discernible in the formation of new political institutions? What do the cases reveal about what works, and what does not work, in forming new institutions? What predictions can be made about the relationship between values and governance structures?