This book investigates the fundamental drivers of jurisdictional design and the structural evolution of governance within and beyond the state. Authors Gary Marks and Liesbet Hooghe, both prominent scholars in political science and European integration, propose a postfunctionalist theory. They argue that the architecture of governance is not merely a product of efficiency, but a complex interplay between the functional requirements of public goods provision and the socio-political preferences for community self-governance.

Experts in political science recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding multi-level governance and the complexities of jurisdictional design. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for advanced students and researchers in the field of political economy.