The New Governance: Governing without Government
1996/09/01 by R. A. W. Rhodes · 4,249 citations
Social Sciences · #Business #Competition (biology) #Computer science #Control (management) #Corporate governance #Cybernetics #Economics #Government (linguistics) #Law and economics #Management #Network governance #Political and Economic history of UK and US #Political science #Public Policy and Administration Research #Public administration #Public service #Social Policy and Reform Studies #Sociology #State (computer science)
paper · open access · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9248.1996.tb01747.x
published in Political Studies 44(4), 652-667 (SAGE Publishing)
openalex publication_date 1996/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06
Abstract
The term ‘governance’ is popular but imprecise. It has at least six uses, referring to: the minimal state; corporate governance: the new public management; ‘good governance’; socio-cybernetic systems: and self-organizing networks. I stipulate that governance refers to ‘self-organizing, interorganizational networks' and argue these networks complement markets and hierarchies as governing structures for authoritatively allocating resources and exercising control and co-ordination. I defend this definition, arguing that it throws new light on recent changes in British government, most notably: hollowing out the state, the new public management, and intergovernmental management. 1 conclude that networks are now a pervasive feature of service delivery in Britain; that such networks are characterized by trust and mutual adjustment and undermine management reforms rooted in competition; and that they are a challenge to governability because they become autonomous and resist central guidance.
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