Building Collaborative Governance in Times of Uncertainty

Democratic societies are being challenged to look for new ways of doing politics that involve different stakeholders, particularly citizens. This book looks at public authorities' attempts to put society at the core of public policies in the form of collaborative governance. It provides a full account of a major case from the provincial council of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain): 150 projects, more than 900 organisations, and 50.000 participants and beneficiaries. 'Pracademic' lessons learned derive from the interaction among 50 practitioners engaged in the day-to-day practice of the case and scholars from different countries. Topics included relate to major challenges that collaborative governance reforms are facing across the world: structures, institutionalisation, relationships, leadership, accountability, innovation, experimentation, communication, intangible resources, trust, and assessment of outcomes (particularly in terms of Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs. Ultimately, issues of democracy arise from a case covering a comprehensive list of policies: health, employment, elderly care, energy, cybersecurity, electromobility, artificial intelligence, immigration, education, social equity, and culture. This book is intended for students, professionals and scholars interested in fostering the study and practice of democracy.

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Contributors: Luis F. Aguilar (National Researcher Emeritus, Mexico), Stephen Ansolabehere (Harvard University), Ander Arzelus (Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa), Unai Andueza (Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa), Ainhoa Arrona (Deusto Foundation), Xabier Barandiaran (Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa), Carmine Bianchi (University of Palermo), Geert Bouckaert (KU Leuven), Ander Caballero (Harvard University), María José Canel (University Complutense Madrid), Andoni Eizaguirre (Mondragon University), Olatz Errazkin (Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa), Gorka Espiau (University of the Basque Country), Naiara Goia (Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa), Asier Lakidain (University of the Basque Country), Miren Larrea (Deusto Foundation), Javier Lezaun (Oxford University), Peter Loge (The George Washington University), Vilma Luoma-aho (Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics), Ion Muñoa (University of Deusto), Anne Murphy (Lancaster University), Tina Nabatchi (Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs), Adil Najim (Boston University), Markel Olano (Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa), Sonia Ospina (New York University), Elena Oyon (strategic thinker, doer and facilitator), Egoitz Pomares (University of the Basque Country), Eva Sørensen (Roskilde University), Fernando Tapia (University of the Basque Country), Jacob Torfing (Roskilde University), Alfonso Unceta (University of the Basque Country), Gregg G. Van Ryzin (Rutgers University–Newark), Sebastián Zurutuza (Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa)

Xabier Barandiaran is advisor to the Head of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa and one of the main promoters of the development of Etorkizuna Eraikiz. He holds a PhD in sociology and is associate professor in the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at the University of Deusto.

María José Canel is professor in political and public sector communication at the University Complutense Madrid with a focus on intangible resources (trust, engagement, legitimacy, and sustainability). She is currently a visiting scholar at George Washington University.
Geert Bouckaert is professor at the KU Leuven Public Governance Institute. He is honorary professor at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose, University College London, and visiting professor at the University of Potsdam.