Civic Engagement, Community-Based Initiatives and Governance Capacity: An International Perspective

This book intends to theoretically conceptualize and empirically investigate upcoming and established practices of community-based initiatives in various countries in which both citizens and governments join efforts and capacities to solve wicked issues. It aims to include and compare cases from various countries, departing from the notion that community-based initiatives take place in an institutional context of governmental structures, rules, procedures, regulations, and routines. This leads to government involvement in these initiatives and sharing the public space. Furthermore, the editors take into account what kind of leadership roles, knowledge, and resources are present and how they evolve in this collaborative or coordinative effort, which in turn can enhance the capacities of community-based initiatives. This book joins excellent researchers from renowned universities all over the world, aiming for a balance between upcoming scholars and renowned scholars in the field of community-based initiatives and governance capacity. Contributors were carefully selected on the basis of their experience in the field of community-based initiatives, citizens’ engagement and governance capacity approaches. Aimed at researchers and academics, this volume will be of interest to those in the fields of business, economics, public administration, political science, social enterprise, sociology and third sector studies.

Jurian Edelenbos is Professor of Interactive Governance, Department of Public Administration & Sociology, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Astrid Molenveld is Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration & Sociology, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Ingmar van Meerkerk is Assistant Professor, Department of Public Administration & Sociology, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.