Book review

Pfiffner, James P. The President, The Budget, and Congress: Impoundment and the 1974 Budget Act, Westview Press, Inc. Boulder, Colorado, 1979, 154 pp.

Atkins, Burton and Mark Pogrebin, editors, The Invisible Justice System: Discretion and The Law, Anderson Publishing Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, 1978, 404 pp. $14.95     

连横《台湾通史》论析：基于学术史的考察

连横一生以搜集、记录、整理、保存、研究台湾历史和文化为职志,著述颇丰,尤以《台湾通史》名世。纵观《台湾通史》的出版史和相关研究的学术史,实与近代以来中国历史进程相契合,其独特的学术价值和现实意义也逐步彰显。20世纪90年代以来,海峡两岸的《台湾通史》研究均进入新的发展阶段,无论视角还是视野、方法还是理论,特别是在学术性或学理性上,都有显著的推进和拓展。     

Reviews

Books reviewed:
Tom Ling, The British State Since 1945: an Introduction
Robert Pyper (ed.), Aspects of Accountability in the British System of Government
David Richards, The Civil Service under the Conservatives 1979–1997. Whitehall's Political Poodles
Ken Young and Nirmala Rao, Local Government Since 1945
Kieron Walsh, Nicholas Deakin, Paul Smith, Peter Spurgeon and Neil Thomas, Contracting for Change: Contracts in Health, Social Care, and Other Local Government Services
Charles Webster, The National Health Service: A Political History
David Marsh (ed.), Comparing Policy Networks
Neill Nugent (ed.), At The Heart Of The Union. Studies of the European Commission
Kenneth Hanf and Ben Soetendorp (eds), Adapting to European Integration. Small States and the European Union
Fiona Hays-Renshaw and Helen Wallace, The Council of Ministers
Justin Greenwood Representing Interests in the European Union
Erik Albæk, Lawrence Rose, Lars Strømberg and Krister Ståhlberg, Nordic Local Government. Developmental Trends and Reform Activities in the Post-War Period
Mark Considine and Martin Painter (eds.), Managerialism: the Great Debate
Peter DeLeon, Democracy and the Policy Sciences
Business Division of Brunel University, BOLA – The Business Open Learning Archive     

Neo-Islamism in the post-Arab Spring

The Arab Spring revealed the rise of Islamists and a wave of Islamic movements across the region. The Islamist agenda is debatable on issues regarding their commitment to democracy, pluralism and individual freedom. Central to this is understanding their evolving definition of Islamism and how the players view themselves. The article provides a brief background on which to describe and define the modern Islamist. The features of Islamist political parties are described. The article offers a definition of neo-Islamism that reflects its most modern trends, including these key characteristics: non-traditional religiosity, gradualism, Islam modernization, nationalism and pragmatic relations with the West.     

More Than 'Counting Manhole Covers': The Evolution Of The British Tradition Of Public Administration

This article is a revised version of an inaugural lecture, delivered at the University of Leeds on 30 April 1998. The focus of the lecture and, thus, of this article is concerned with administrative history and the civil service. The first part of the article is about the pioneers of the academic study of public administration, and the subject's relationship with political philosophy. The second part examines the role of the Webbs and the British approach to public administration. The third part evaluates the contribution of the academics of the 'Golden Age' of public administration. The fourth part deals with changing perceptions of public administration, with a particular emphasis on developments in the civil service; it is deliberately self-referential. The final part briefly considers the future of the academic study of public administration, concluding that it has one.     

Opportunities in Role Specialization Through Location in Public Sector Services

The purpose of this paper is to study whether organizations in the public sector have special roles that are similar to those in the private sector. The model used for the analyses is the Ferdows ‘strategic role of the plant’ model. The operations of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Finland were analyzed for the study. The data used was gathered in interviews and from general sources. The results indicate that special roles can be found and, furthermore, that there are huge possibilities in this area. The idea of roles is important to improve their productivity.     

Reviews and commentary

Conspiring for democracy

Peter Coleman: The Liberal Conspiracy: The Congress For Cultural Freedom And The Struggle For The Mind Of Postwar Europe The Free Press, New York, 1989, 333 p., $22.95.

The importance of doing homework!

H. H. A. Cooper and Lawrence J. Redlinger: Catching Spies: Principles and Practice of Counterespionage Paladin Press, Boulder, Colo., 1988, 403 p., $19.95.

_____: Making Spies: A Talent Spotter's Handbook Paladin Press, Boulder, Colo., 1986, 272 p., $16.95.

The CIA and intelligence policy

Loch K. Johnson: America's Secret Power: The CIA in a Democratic Society Oxford University Press, New York, 1989, 344 p., $24.95.

RAF Secret missions in southeast Asia during World War II

Terence O'Brien: The Moonlight War: The Story of Clandestine Operations in Southeast Asia, 1944–45 Collins, London, 1987, 363 p., £12.95.

Outside the inside story

Ernest Volkman and Blaine Baggett: Secret Intelligence: The Inside Story of America's Espionage Empire Doubleday, New York, 1989, 229 p., $19.95.

Prescribing caution on glasnost

Edward Jay Epstein: Deception: The Invisible War Between the KGB and the CIA Simon and Schuster, New York, 1989, 335 p., $19.95.

U.S. intelligence: a long view

Nathan Miller: Spying for America: The Hidden History of U.S. Intelligence Paragon House, New York, 1989, 482 p., $24.95.     

Building the Human Bomb: The Case of the 16 May 2003 Attacks in Casablanca

The terrorist attacks that took place on 16 May 2003 in Casablanca were a result of internal factors. These factors include the terrorists" view of their faith, poverty, and under-education. The links between the terrorists in Morocco and the Al Qaeda network, despite their ideological similarities, are not of a “command and control” nature. The relationship can be described as a franchise operation. The attacks resulted in the alienation of the population from movements attempting to use Islam in politics. Consequently, the attacks backfired on the Moroccan Islamist movement.     

“时代力量”的政党制度化及其困境

台湾地区“时代力量”党是第三势力政党研究的典型。目前,对于“时代力量”的研究主要集中于宏观层面和微观层面,并不能完整的展现“时代力量”的组织变迁。本文试图从中观层面,勾勒其制度化图谱。“时代力量”的制度化水平一直处于较低的状态,受目标替代的影响,其自主性进一步削弱,而体系化程度受制于“属地化”的寡头式分权,难有起色。“时代力量”脆弱的组织很难承受政治参与扩大的冲击。     

Book Reviews

Thain, Colin and Wright, Maurice, The Treasury and Whitehall: the Planning and Control of Public Expenditure, 1976–1993 Thompson, Helen, The British Conservative Government and the European Exchange Rate Mechanism 1979–1994 Chandler, J.A. (Ed.), The Citizen’s Charter Smith, T.A. and Young, A.M.M., Th Fixers: Crisis Management in British Politics Tindale, Stephen (ed.), The State and the Nations, the Politics of Devolution McLaverty, Peter, The Politics of Empowerment? Boston, Jonathan, Martin, John, Pallot, June, Walsh, Pat, Public Management: The New Zealand Model Schick, Allen, The Spirit of Reform: Managing the New Zealand State Sector in a Time of Change – A Report Prepared for the State Services Commission and the Treasury, New Zealand McLeay, Elizabeth, The Cabinet and Political Power in New Zealand Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Governance in Transition: Public Management Reforms in OECD Countries Kettl, Donald and Milward, Brinton (eds), The State of Public Management Lynn, Laurence E., Public Management as Art, Science and Profession Gummett, Philip (ed.), Globalization and Public Policy Fitzmaurice, John, The Politics of Belgium, a Unique Federalism Handler, Joel F., Down from Bureaucracy: The Ambiguity of Privatization and Empowerment Nagel, Stuart S., Crotty, William and Scarritt, James (eds), Political Reforms and Developing Nations Cherry, Steven, Medical Services and the Hospitals in Britain, 1860–1939 Surrey, John (ed.), The British Electricity Experiment. Privatization: the Record, the Issues, the Lessons Ledwith, Sue and Colgan, Fiona (eds), Women in Organisations Challenging Gender Politics Grayson, Leslie and Davies, Howard (eds) Inlogov Informs on Quangos     

Reviews

Books reviewed:
Nicolai Dose And Matthias Finger, Public Administration In Germany And Switzerland: A Review Symposium
Andrew Jordan, The Multi-Level Politics Of European Environmental Governance: A Review Article
Tineke A. Abma, Evaluation For The 21st Century. A Handbook
Lennart Lundquist, Unmasking Administrative Evi
Anne Bergmans, Understanding Policy Fiascoes
Martha Blomqvist, Understanding Gender And Organizations
Lotte Jensen, Rationality And Power. Democracy In Practice
Bill Jenkins, Strategic Planning And Management In Local Government
Susana Borrás, Policy-Making In The Eu. Conceptual Lenses And The Integration Process
Pekka Kettunen , Interaktive Politik In Europa. Regionen Im Netzwerk Der Integration
Tanja A. Börzel, Eu Committees As Influential Policymakers
Torill Nyseth, Government Is Us. Public Administration In An Anti-Government Era
Peter Bogason, Teaching Political Science: Http://Www.Apsanet.Org/Teaching/Teaching On And By The Www     

Reviews

Lester Salamon, The Resilient Sector: The State of Nonprofit America
R.A.W. Rhodes, P. Carmichael, J. McMillan and A. Massey, Decentralising the Civil Service: from Unitary State to Differentiated Polity in the United Kingdom
Ben Pimlott and Nirmola Rao, Governing London
Roger W. Cobb and David M. Primo, Plane Truth: Airline Crashes, the Media and Transportation Policy
Howard Glennerster, Understanding the Financing of Welfare: What Welfare Costs and How to Pay for it
Martin Powell (ed.), Evaluating New Labour's Welfare Reforms
Liesbet Hooghe, The European Commission and the Integration of Europe: Images of Governance
Colin J. Bennett and Charles D. Raab, The Governance of Privacy: Policy Instruments in Global Perspective
Rudy B. Andeweg and Galen A. Irwin, Governance and Politics of the Netherlands
Justin Greenwood (ed.), The Challenge of Change in EU Business Associations     

Urban service delivery

Fisk, Donald, Herbert Kiesling, and Thoms Muller, Private Provision of Public Services: An over- View, The Urban Institute, Washington, D.C., 1978, 106 pp., $6.00.

Lineberry, Robert L., Equality and Urban Policy: The Distribution of Municipal Public Services, Sage Publications, Beverly Hills, 1977, 205 pp.

Nivola, Pietro S . , The Urban Service Problem : A Study of Housing Inspection, Lexington Books, Lexington, Massachusetts, 1979, 175 pp., $18.95.

Prottas , Jeffrey Manditch, People-processing : The Street-level Bureaucrat in Public Service Bureacacies, Lexington Books, Lexington, Massachusetts, 1979, 179 PP.

Thursz, Daniel and Joseph Vigilante (eds . ) , Reaching People : The Structure of Neighborhood Services, Sage Publications, Beverly Hills, 1978, 277 pp.     

Reviews: Teaching Public Administration in the Nordic Countries: A Review Symposium

Books reviewed:
Christopher Hodgkinson, Administrative Philosophy – Values and Motivations in Administrative Life
Paul Heywood, Political Corruption
D. Farnham, S. Horton, J. Barlow and A. Hondeghem, New Public Managers in Europe: Public Servants in Transition
Lawrence D. Longley and Roger H. Davidson, The New Roles of Parliamentary Committees
Kenneth Armstrong and Simon Bulmer, The Governance of the Single European Market
Gerda Falkner, EU Social Policy in the 1990s. Towards a Corporatist Policy Community
Wyn Grant, The Common Agricultural Policy
Robin Means and Randall Smith, Community Care: Policy and Practice
Peter Bogason, PUMA – The Management Service of the OECD     

Leading and recognizing public value

This article examines the relationship between leadership and public value, which is particularly challenging in a context of explicit contest and conflict. The theoretical framework is illustrated through a case study of policing rural crime. The study reveals that the police worked with multiple and competing publics rather than a single homogeneous public, and that part of their leadership role was to create and convene a public space in which different voices and divergent views could be expressed. The study notes that research needs to pay attention to the loss and displacement of public value, not solely its creation and recognition. The need to convene multiple publics required the police to lead, as part of a leadership constellation, and with political astuteness. The findings have wider relevance for other public services, and for studies of leadership and public value at the intersection between the state and civil society.     

The Rise and Fall of Ethnoterritorial Federalism: A Comparison of the Soviet Union (Russia), China,and India

The early Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and independent India inherited vast territories and multi-ethnic populations from the preceding empires. Their maintenance was a political and administrative challenge. The Soviet Union devised an archetype of ethnoterritorial federalism, in which nationality groups were granted their own administrative territories and subnational governments. The PRC and India imitated this system selectively, aware of its dangerous centrifugal tendency. The collapse of the Soviet Union discredited ethnoterritorial federalism, but none of the three countries has since devised a new system of multinational integration to replace it.     

www.terrorism.com: Terror on the Internet

The nature of the Internet--the ease of access, the chaotic structure, the anonymity, and the international character--all furnish terrorist organizations with an easy and effective arena for action. The present research focuses on the use of the Internet by modern terrorist organizations and attempts to describe the uses terrorist organizations make of this new communication technology. Is the use of the Internet by terrorists different from that of other, "conventional" means of communication? How can governments respond to this new challenge? The population examined in this study is defined as the Internet sites of terrorist movements as found by a systematic search of the Internet, using various search engines. The sites were subjected to a qualitative content analysis, focusing on their rhetorical structures, symbols, persuasive appeals, and communication tactics. The study reveals differences and similarities between terrorist rhetoric online and in the conventional media.     

To History or to Hollywood? Monuments to Foreign Celebrities in Twenty-First Century Balkans

The article identifies an emerging trend in the reconstruction of identities in the Balkans which involves the memorialisation of foreign celebrities, including Rocky Balboa, Tarzan, Bruce Lee, Bob Marley, Tupac Shakur, and Samantha Fox. The article aims to understand the meaning and the purpose of foreign celebrity monuments to the local communities. The findings suggest that the monuments represent radical political statements by emerging civil societies in a process of transition from Yugoslav socialism, 1990s nationalism, and foreign-led liberalisation and democratisation in post-conflict times. The monuments are constitutive in themselves as democratic expressions and examples of citizens performing political acts.     

Bureaucracy,Post-Bureaucracy,or Anarchy? Evidence from the Italian Public Administration

The aim of this study is to investigate whether the features characterizing the modern public administrations, their organizational models, and the activities carried out, are still rooted in the old bureaucratic approach. The research gathered data from a questionnaire administered to 156 Italian public officers, employees, and managers. The analysis consists of a correlation test and a regression test to verify the hypotheses related to the aim of the study. The research shows that, despite the changes driven by NPM reforms, the Italian Public Administration is still linked to a bureaucratic model. Findings also show that Italian public servants are highly motivated despite the activities they carry out are strongly standardized. Additionally, it clearly emerges that in some cases Italian public administrations are perceived by their employees as pervaded by anarchy. The article has both interesting academic and practical implications for the management of public administrations.     

Book Reviews

Book Reveiwed in this article
Analysis for Public Decisions E. S. Quade
American Public Administration: Past, Present, Future Frederick C. Mosher, (ed.)
Public Administration and Public Afairs Nicholas Henry
British Government 1966–1975: Tears of Reform Frank Stacey
Regional Planning and Social Change David Gillingwater
The Mandarins of Western Europe Edited by Mattei Dogan.
The Land and the Development; or, the Turmoil and the Torment Sir Desmond Heap, Stevens
The Reform of Planning Law Neal Alison Roberts
Linked Research Project into Public Participation in Structure Planning, Interim Papers 1–9* William Hampton and others.
Education Policy Making: A Study of Interest Groups and Parliament Maurice Kogan
The Power of the Purse: The Role of European Parliaments in Budgetary Decisions David Coombes et al.