Steering from the Centre details how chief executives in ten Western democracies have responded to governance challenges in the wake of reform ideas such as the New Public Management which stress deregulation and decentralization.

p>Figures Tables Preface INTRODUCTION Steering from the Centre: Strengthening Political Control in Western Democracies by Carl Dalhström (University of Gothenburg), B Guy Peters (University of Pittsburg) and Jon Pierre (University of Gothenburg) PART ONE: Continental Europe Steering from the Centre in France in the 2000s. When Reorganizations meet Politicization by Philippe Bezes and Patrick Le Lidec (both Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches de Sciences Administratives et Politiques) Steering from the German center: More policy coordination and less policy initiatives by Julia Fleischer (University of Potsdam) The Core Executive in Italy: A More Visible Skipper, But Still Little Steering by Francesco Stolfi (University College, Dublin) PART TWO: Anglo-American Democracies Central Steering in Australia by John Halligan (UNiversity of Canberra) Governing from the Center(s): Governance Challenges in the United States by B Guy Peters Steering from the Centre: The Canadian Way by Donal Savoie (Universite de Montreal) The Paradoxes of Britain’s Strong Centre: Delegating Decisions and Re-claiming Control by Martin Smith (University of Sheffield) PART THREE: Scandinavia Steering the Swedish State. Politicization as a Coordination Strategy by Carl Dahlström and Jon Pierre Steering from the Centre in Denmark by Lotte Jensen (University of Copenhagen) Towards Stronger Political Steering: Programme Management Reform in the Finnish Government by Sirpa Kekkonen (Finnish Government) and Tapio Raunio (University of Tampere, Finland) CONCLUSION Steering Strategies in Western Democracies by Carl Dahlström, B Guy Peters, and Jon Pierre