Author Description

This Book Examines Some Key Organizational Reforms Introduced In The English Nhs By New Labour In The 2000s, Namely Managed Networks. With The Re-election Of A Labour Government In 2024, There Is Renewed Interest In Such Reforms. It Also Includes Substantial Case Study Based Material As An Empirical Base. The Book Presents A Qualified Defence Of Their Potential To Develop As A Governance Mode, Although Limitations Are Also Noted. The Book Makes Three Core And More General Contributions. Firstly, It Argues That New Labour's Health Policy Included Important Network Governance Elements. This Argument Will Be Of Interest To The Public Management Community. Secondly, The Notion Of 'wicked Problems' Is Brought In To Suggest Where Networks May In Principle Be Most Appropriately Used. 'wicked Problems' Conditions Appear To Be Present In Many Public Policy Areas. Thirdly, It Uses A Foucauldian And Governmentality Based Approach To Provide A Theoretical Framing For The Extensive Empirical Work Presented. This Second Edition Includes Short Updates On The Empirical Cases And, Importantly, A Substantially Revised And Expanded Introduction. This New Material Brings The Analysis Up To Date And Also Argues That The Networks Phenomenon Has Endured More Recently And Therefore Should Still Be Of Interest