Donald F. Kettl

In the third edition of his award-winning System under Stress, Donald Kettl looks at the latest stress to hit the system—the financial crisis of 2008. In his brief, gripping narrative, Kettl assesses how well the U. S. political system responds under extraordinary pressure and explores whether the government can effectively handle the next challenge. A well-known scholar, commentator, and writer in the areas of federalism and governance, Kettl asks the hard questions, and while making a credible and persuasive argument, crafts a case study that works in classrooms up and down the political science and public administration curriculum. In earlier editions, Kettl looked at the massive reorganization under the Department of Homeland Security, a response to the system-wide coordination problems brought to light on 9/11. Better planning, new leadership, and far-reaching reform were to demonstrate that the government would be prepared for the next disaster. Sadly, the catastrophic response to Hurricane Katrina showed how this restructuring did not bring about the long-term policy changes necessary for dealing with threats of this size. In this new edition, Kettl assesses the havoc created by "too big to fail" banks, and even ordinary home buyers, borrowing well beyond their means. Regulators were no match for the banks' speculative betting and highly complicated financial investments. Is the government now better prepared to combat fiscal malfeasance? Can our regulatory structure effectively predict and manage future financial crises?

Donald Trump saw the federal bureaucracy as the breeding ground of the 'deep state,' a powerful, unresponsive collection of bureaucratic experts determined to undermine the policies for which he was convinced he had a mandate. He translated that into a furious assault on the basic principles of both the theory and practice of public administration. One of the points of his genius was his incomparable skill in identifying issues that resonated with voters, and his attacks on public administration identified unarguable problems. But those attacks also eroded government's capacity to get work done and the strategies for accountability that had carefully grown since the founders wrote the Constitution. Transforming administration into instruments of political symbols and political power undermined the basic values of public administration-and created fundamental challenges to which the field must rise in charting a public administration for 2035 and beyond.

Donald Trump saw the federal bureaucracy as the breeding ground of the 'deep state,' a powerful, unresponsive collection of bureaucratic experts determined to undermine the policies for which he was convinced he had a mandate. He translated that into a furious assault on the basic principles of both the theory and practice of public administration. One of the points of his genius was his incomparable skill in identifying issues that resonated with voters, and his attacks on public administration identified unarguable problems. But those attacks also eroded government's capacity to get work done and the strategies for accountability that had carefully grown since the founders wrote the Constitution. Transforming administration into instruments of political symbols and political power undermined the basic values of public administration-and created fundamental challenges to which the field must rise in charting a public administration for 2035 and beyond.

There is a tsunami of research being produced by social scientists, and most of them hope that their work will have impact on public policy. There is an enormous hunger by practitioners for insights into the work they are doing. Far too often, however, there is little connection between the two groups. Researchers complain that practitioners don’t pay enough attention to what they’re writing. Practitioners say that much of what they read isn’t understandable. We propose to write a short, handy guide like Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style, aimed at those who seek to translate their research into impact on the world of public affairs. It will help readers do so in academic journals; dissertations and other research-based papers by graduate and undergraduate students; commentaries for major government-focused publications like Governing and GovExec; op-eds for major publications and local newspapers; think tanks and foundations; policy memos aimed at stakeholders within government agencies and elected officials; and books. It will be designed so that its readers can quickly digest it from cover to cover, but it is our expectation that many will jump from chapter to chapter, seeking just the information they most covet. The chapter titles themselves will be punchy, and sometimes humorous, but with an emphasis on clarity. In addition, we will conclude each chapter with a series of bulleted take-aways, in the form of “Do’s and Don’ts”The chapters will develop lessons based on feedback we have gleaned from leading authors and editors, in addition to the authors’ cumulative 110 years in the realm of public administration. The book will provide specific real-world examples of what works—and what doesn’t. By way of illustration, examples will include a good pitch for an op-ed for a regional or a major newspaper; the opening paragraphs of a particularly well written journal abstract; and multiple concrete examples of clear concise writing – or unclear verbose writing – taken from published work. The result will be a guidebook for preparing more effective writing, as well as creating greater impact for useful policy ideas. Given the growing complexity of government problems and the declining trust in government’s operations, writing for impact has never been more important.

There is a tsunami of research being produced by social scientists, and most of them hope that their work will have impact on public policy. There is an enormous hunger by practitioners for insights into the work they are doing. Far too often, however, there is little connection between the two groups. Researchers complain that practitioners don’t pay enough attention to what they’re writing. Practitioners say that much of what they read isn’t understandable. We propose to write a short, handy guide like Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style, aimed at those who seek to translate their research into impact on the world of public affairs. It will help readers do so in academic journals; dissertations and other research-based papers by graduate and undergraduate students; commentaries for major government-focused publications like Governing and GovExec; op-eds for major publications and local newspapers; think tanks and foundations; policy memos aimed at stakeholders within government agencies and elected officials; and books. It will be designed so that its readers can quickly digest it from cover to cover, but it is our expectation that many will jump from chapter to chapter, seeking just the information they most covet. The chapter titles themselves will be punchy, and sometimes humorous, but with an emphasis on clarity. In addition, we will conclude each chapter with a series of bulleted take-aways, in the form of “Do’s and Don’ts”The chapters will develop lessons based on feedback we have gleaned from leading authors and editors, in addition to the authors’ cumulative 110 years in the realm of public administration. The book will provide specific real-world examples of what works—and what doesn’t. By way of illustration, examples will include a good pitch for an op-ed for a regional or a major newspaper; the opening paragraphs of a particularly well written journal abstract; and multiple concrete examples of clear concise writing – or unclear verbose writing – taken from published work. The result will be a guidebook for preparing more effective writing, as well as creating greater impact for useful policy ideas. Given the growing complexity of government problems and the declining trust in government’s operations, writing for impact has never been more important.

From Caligula and the time of ancient Rome to the present, governments have relied on experts to manage public programs. But with that expertise has come power, and that power has long proven difficult to hold accountable. The tension between experts in the bureaucracy and the policy goals of elected officials, however, remains a point of often bitter tension. President Donald Trump labeled these experts as a 'deep state' seeking to resist the policies he believed he was elected to pursue—and he developed a policy scheme to make it far easier to fire experts he deemed insufficiently loyal. The age-old battles between expertise and accountability have come to a sharp point, and resolving these tensions requires a fresh look at the rule of law to shape the role of experts in governance.

From Caligula and the time of ancient Rome to the present, governments have relied on experts to manage public programs. But with that expertise has come power, and that power has long proven difficult to hold accountable. The tension between experts in the bureaucracy and the policy goals of elected officials, however, remains a point of often bitter tension. President Donald Trump labeled these experts as a 'deep state' seeking to resist the policies he believed he was elected to pursue—and he developed a policy scheme to make it far easier to fire experts he deemed insufficiently loyal. The age-old battles between expertise and accountability have come to a sharp point, and resolving these tensions requires a fresh look at the rule of law to shape the role of experts in governance.

Efficient public administration requires a delicate balance between politics, accountability, and performance--bureaucracy must be powerful enough to be effective but also accountable to elected officials and citizens. Author Don Kettl understands that the push and pull of political forces in a democracy make the functions of bureaucracy both contentious and crucial. In The Politics of the Administrative Process, he gives students a realistic, relevant, and well-researched view of the field featuring engaging vignettes and rich examples from current events like the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ninth Edition has been thoroughly updated with an additional chapter, as well as new scholarship, data, and case studies, giving students multiple opportunities to apply ideas and analysis as they read.

In the face of ever more complex societal challenges, this book provides an essential new model for transforming the public sector and getting things done. Pandemics. Climate change. Refugee resettlement. Global supply chains. We face a new generation of complex problems that stretch across the public and private sectors and flow over organizational boundaries. To meet the moment, we need a fresh, new approach that strengthens institutions and government agencies by breaking free from organizational boxes and rigid, top-down leadership. As William D. Eggers, executive director of Deloitte's Center for Government Insights, and Donald F. Kettl, public management scholar, show in this indispensable book, we need a government of bridgebuilders who collaborate with partners—inside and outside government—to get the job done. These leaders manage horizontally instead of vertically; they see their role as connectors; and they identify which players have the assets needed to solve the unprecedented problems at hand. Each chapter examines one of the ten core principles of bridgebuilding and features practical tips and dynamic cases of how effective leaders have put each bridgebuilding principle to work. The book also includes a special section that helps government leaders create a hundred-day bridgebuilding plan. Throughout, Eggers and Kettl tell fascinating and instructive stories about some of today's bridgebuilders—federal, state, and local government leaders who transcend boundaries, partner across sectors, and get stuff done. Trusted and effective government has never been more important than today. Bridgebuilders provides a new model that current government decision makers—as well as young leaders who aspire to public service—can learn from and apply right now to transform government and restore public trust.

Why federalism is pulling America apart—and how the system can be reformedFederalism was James Madison's great invention. An innovative system of power sharing that balanced national and state interests, federalism was the pragmatic compromise that brought the colonies together to form the United States. Yet, even beyond the question of slavery, inequality was built into the system because federalism by its very nature meant that many aspects of an American's life depended on where they lived. Over time, these inequalities have created vast divisions between the states and made federalism fundamentally unstable. In The Divided States of America, Donald Kettl chronicles the history of a political system that once united the nation—and now threatens to break it apart. Exploring the full sweep of federalism from the founding to today, Kettl focuses on pivotal moments when power has shifted between state and national governments—from the violent rebalancing of the Civil War, when the nation almost split in two, to the era of civil rights a century later, when there was apparent agreement that inequality was a threat to liberty and the federal government should set policies for states to enact. Despite this consensus, inequality between states has only deepened since that moment. From health care and infrastructure to education and the environment, the quality of public services is ever more uneven. Having revealed the shortcomings of Madison's marvel, Kettl points to possible solutions in the writings of another founder: Alexander Hamilton. Making an urgent case for reforming federalism, The Divided States of America shows why we must—and how we can—address the crisis of American inequality.

Why federalism is pulling America apart—and how the system can be reformedFederalism was James Madison's great invention. An innovative system of power sharing that balanced national and state interests, federalism was the pragmatic compromise that brought the colonies together to form the United States. Yet, even beyond the question of slavery, inequality was built into the system because federalism by its very nature meant that many aspects of an American's life depended on where they lived. Over time, these inequalities have created vast divisions between the states and made federalism fundamentally unstable. In The Divided States of America, Donald Kettl chronicles the history of a political system that once united the nation—and now threatens to break it apart. Exploring the full sweep of federalism from the founding to today, Kettl focuses on pivotal moments when power has shifted between state and national governments—from the violent rebalancing of the Civil War, when the nation almost split in two, to the era of civil rights a century later, when there was apparent agreement that inequality was a threat to liberty and the federal government should set policies for states to enact. Despite this consensus, inequality between states has only deepened since that moment. From health care and infrastructure to education and the environment, the quality of public services is ever more uneven. Having revealed the shortcomings of Madison's marvel, Kettl points to possible solutions in the writings of another founder: Alexander Hamilton. Making an urgent case for reforming federalism, The Divided States of America shows why we must—and how we can—address the crisis of American inequality.

Some analysts have called distrust the biggest governmental crisis of our time. It is unquestionably a huge problem, undermining confidence in our elected institutions, shrinking social capital, slowing innovation, and raising existential questions for democratic government itself. What’s behind the rising distrust in democracies around the world and can we do anything about it? In this lively and thought-provoking essay, Donald F. Kettl, a leading scholar of public policy and management, investigates the deep historical roots of distrust in government, exploring its effects on the social contract between citizens and their elected representatives. Most importantly, the book examines the strategies that present-day governments can follow to earn back our trust, so that the officials we elect can govern more effectively on our behalf.

Some analysts have called distrust the biggest governmental crisis of our time. It is unquestionably a huge problem, undermining confidence in our elected institutions, shrinking social capital, slowing innovation, and raising existential questions for democratic government itself. What’s behind the rising distrust in democracies around the world and can we do anything about it? In this lively and thought-provoking essay, Donald F. Kettl, a leading scholar of public policy and management, investigates the deep historical roots of distrust in government, exploring its effects on the social contract between citizens and their elected representatives. Most importantly, the book examines the strategies that present-day governments can follow to earn back our trust, so that the officials we elect can govern more effectively on our behalf.

"Kettl’s easy-to-read book and various examples of big data application are required reading for seasoned academics as well as for students who work in public administration and want to contribute to real-world problem solving." –Junghack Kim, Wichita State University Little Bites of Big Data for Public Policy brings to life the quest to make better policy with better evidence. This brief book frames the big puzzles and, through lively stories and clear examples, provides a valuable how-to guide for producing analysis that works—that speaks persuasively to policy makers, in the language they can best hear, on the problems for which they most need answers. Author Donald F. Kettl brings together the cutting-edge streams of data analytics and data visualization to frame the big puzzles and find ways to make the pieces fit together. By taking little bites of a wide variety of useful data, and then by analyzing it in ways that decision makers will find most helpful, analysts can be much more effective in shaping solutions to the most important problems governments face.

"Why big government is not the problem. The Progressive government movement, founded on support from Republicans and Democrats alike, reined in corporate trusts and improved the lives of sweatshop workers. It created modern government, from the Federal Reserve to the nation’s budgetary and civil service policies, and most of the programs on which we depend. Ask Americans today and they will tell you that our government has hit a wall of low performance and high distrust, with huge implications for governance in the country. Instead of a focus on government effectiveness, the movement that spawned the idea of government for the people has become known for creating a big government disconnected from citizens. Donald F. Kettl finds that both political parties have contributed to the decline of the Progressive ideal of a commitment to competence. They have both fed gridlock and created a government that does not work the way citizens expect and deserve. Kettl argues for a rebirth of the original Progressive spirit, not in pursuit of bigger government but with a bipartisan dedication to better government, one that works on behalf of all citizens and that delivers services effectively. He outlines the problems in today’s government, including political pressures, proxy tools, and managerial failures. Escaping Jurassic Government details the strategies, evidence, and people that can strengthen governmental effectiveness and shut down gridlock."

The traditional theory of public administration is based on entrenched notions of hierarchy and authority. However, as the structure of public work has grown less hierarchical, managers have adopted a wide variety of non-authoritarian strategies. This growing gap between theoretical ideas and actual practice poses enormous challenges for front-line leaders struggling to deal with ever-larger expectations and ever-tighter budgets-and for American government in determining how best to hold public administrators accountable for their performance. The Transformation of Governance offers a new framework for reconciling effective administration with the requirements of democratic government. Instead of thinking in terms of organizational structure and management, Donald F. Kettl suggests, administrators and theorists need to focus on governance, or the links between government and its broader environment-political, social, and administrative-through which social action occurs. In this updated edition, a new epilogue shows Kettl urging political leaders to step back from the political barricades of hyperpartisanship to consider government's contemporary dilemma: Is there any practical way forward for public administrators to manage government effectively? Reinforcing the ten principles of bridge building which he developed in the original book, Kettl adds an eleventh, which lays out five transformative strategies: redefining public law to promote public accountability; re-conceptualizing government agencies as instruments of leverage; launching government leaders as boundary spanners; using information technology for building authority and trust; and incorporating performance management into processes that drive collaboration. With a new preface from Michael Nelson, editor of the Interpreting American Politics series, this award-winning book will be sought out by public policymakers eager to read a leading scholar's newest insights into the field.

Drawing data from crises like FEMA's tragic failure in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he demonstrates the increasingly complex nature of the problems our government must solve and the failings of its current approach. Based on the surprising successes of key officials in crisis situations, Kettl envisions a legion of leaders who run government they way that rocket scientists launch rockets--with strong leadership focused on objectives, held accountable for performance, and linked effectively to citizens so that it acts decisively for the public good. This book is a guide to the problems that ail our government and a road map for their solution.

"Explores the current models of government reform across the world, examining the basic tool kit of reformers and probing the underlying issues of government management and the puzzles of governance in the twenty-first century, with special focus on New Zealand and the United States"--Provided by publisher.