The Politics of Public Administration Reform in Italy

This book provides an empirical and critical perspective on the processes of administrative reform in Italy, focusing on recent changes during austerity and fiscal crisis. It explores international and supranational influence, policy diffusion, domestic politics, institutional dynamics, administrative traditions, and functional explanations to understand policy outputs and outcomes.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 147 pages
Publication date: 26 August 2021
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive book offers a stimulating presentation of the Italian administrative system through an empirical and critical perspective on the processes of administrative reform at the national level. It delves into some of the most recent changes developed during the years of austerity and fiscal crisis, providing an updated perspective on the efforts made by Italian governments to modernize national public administration through the 'new public management' and 'governance paradigms.' These frameworks are proposed as models to enhance efficiency, transparency, accountability, and public participation.

The book explores international and supranational influence, policy diffusion, domestic politics, and institutional dynamics, examining all determinants of policy outputs and outcomes, including the potential for policy learning. This groundbreaking work is the first to provide such a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis for non-Italian readers, shedding light on the complex dynamics and challenges of the Italian administrative system.

The book begins by providing an overview of the Italian administrative system, its historical development, and the challenges it faces in the modern era. It then delves into the empirical analysis of administrative reform processes, focusing on the years of austerity and fiscal crisis. The authors examine the impact of these changes on the functioning of the Italian public administration, including the adoption of new management practices, the implementation of governance paradigms, and the efforts to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

The book also explores the international and supranational influences on administrative reform in Italy, including the role of European Union policies, international organizations, and global trends in public administration. It examines policy diffusion, the process by which ideas and practices from one context are transferred to another, and the ways in which these influences shape the policy outcomes in Italy.

Domestic politics play a significant role in the administrative reform process, as governments navigate the complex interplay of interests and ideologies. The book examines the role of political actors, including policymakers, civil servants, and interest groups, in shaping administrative policies and practices. It also explores the dynamics of administrative traditions and institutional dynamics, examining how these factors influence policy outputs and outcomes.

In addition to these analytical chapters, the book includes case studies and examples from the Italian administrative system, providing a practical perspective on the challenges and opportunities of administrative reform. These case studies showcase the successes and failures of different reform initiatives, and offer insights into the factors that contribute to policy learning and improvement.

Overall, this book provides a valuable contribution to the study of public administration and governance, offering a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the Italian administrative system through an empirical and critical lens. It will be of interest to scholars, policymakers, and practitioners in the field of public administration and governance, as well as anyone with an interest in understanding the complexities and challenges of modernizing public administration in different contexts.

Weight: 218g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030322908
Edition number: 1st ed. 2020