Intergovernmental Relations in Transition: Reflections and Directions

The field of intergovernmental relations has changed substantially over the past five decades. It maintains a critical and evolving role in the US federal system as well as in public policy and administration. Building upon the legacy of Deil S.Wright’s scholarship, this collection of essays by distinguished scholars, emerging thought leaders, and experienced practitioners chronicles and analyzes some of the tensions and pressures that have contributed to the current state of intergovernmental relations and management.

Although rarely commanding media attention by name, intergovernmental relations is being elevated in the public discourse through policy issues dominating the headlines. Many of these intergovernmental issues are addressed in this book, including health insurance exchanges under the now-threatened Affordable Care Act, and the roles of the federal, state, and local governments in food safety, energy, and climate change.Contributors interpret and assess the impacts of these and other issues on the future directions of intergovernmental relations and management. This book will serve as an ideal text for courses on intergovernmental relations and federalism, and will be of interest to government practitioners and civic and nonprofit organization leaders involved in public policy and management.

Carl W. Stenberg is the James E. Holshouser, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Public Administration and Government at the School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Carl has been on the UNC faculty since 2003 and served as Director of the Master of Public Administration Program from 2006–2011. Prior to joining UNC Carl was Dean of the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts and Professor of Public Administration at the University of Baltimore. Carl is a Fellow and former Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Public Administration and Past President of the American Society for Public Administration. Over the past 10 years, Carl has authored or co-authored 20 articles and co-edited Managing Local Government Services: A Practical Guide (2007).

David K. Hamilton retired as Associate Professor of Public Administration and Director of the Center for Public Service at Texas Tech University, USA. Prior to joining Texas Tech University, Dr. Hamilton was employed by Roosevelt University for 31 years where he served as Vice President and Dean of the Albert A. Robin Campus, Associate Director of the School of Public Policy, and Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. Dr. Hamilton has published over 20 articles in refereed journals. His books include Governing Metropolitan Areas, 2e (Routledge, 2014).