National Preparedness : Towards an Emergent System of Governance

Abstract

Public governance refers to the mechanisms, processes, and institutions through which societies organise and govern themselves. It encompasses a variety of forms, ranging from traditional hierarchies to more decentralised and participatory models. The term governance is broad and has a neutral connotation, which means that if the term is to be used effectively in analytical discussions, it requires further specification. As Peters et al. (2022) note, incorporating descriptive adjectives is necessary to render the term more precise and relevant to specific contexts or frameworks. In recent decades, the concept of governance has become a focal point across a multitude of academic disciplines. As a result, a wealth of literature has emerged, diving into the many dimensions and implications of governance. Among the diverse types of governance discussed in the literature, several distinct models stand out: network governance (e.g. Pierre and Peters 2000) emphasises the decentralised nature of decision-making, relying on a web of interconnected actors and institutions; participatory governance (e.g. Grote and Gbikpi 2002) values the direct involvement of citizens in the decision-making process, promoting a democratic approach; metagovernance (Kooiman 2003) offers an overarching framework, focusing on the governance of governance itself, to ensure efficient coordination among different governance systems; adaptive governance (e.g. Folke et al. 2005) recognises the need for governance systems to be dynamic and responsive to changes in the environment; anticipatory governance (e.g. Quay 2010) stresses the importance of forward-looking policies and practices, aiming to prepare for future challenges proactively; experimentalist governance (e.g. Sabel and Zeitlin 2012) is built on the idea of continuous learning, with policies being treated as experiments that can be adjusted based on outcomes; collaborative governance (e.g. Emerson and Nabatchi 2015) encourages cooperative interactions among various stakeholders, emphasising shared decision-making and common goals; robust governance (Ansell et al. 2023) addresses the interdependence of stability and change.