Twenty-first century United States governance: statecraft as reform craft and the peculiar governing paradox it perpetuates

The United States is commonly referred to as the last global superpower, exercising unrivalled political, economic, military and social influence. Yet, paradoxically, unlike any other nation, Americans were – and remain – radically antistatist. Until roughly the twentieth century the United States d...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public administration (London) 2003-03, Vol.81 (1), p.19-40
Main Author: Stillman, Richard J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Governance
Government
Political Culture
Political science
Politics
Public administration
Public opinion
Reform
State
Superpowers
U.S.A
United States of America
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The United States is commonly referred to as the last global superpower, exercising unrivalled political, economic, military and social influence. Yet, paradoxically, unlike any other nation, Americans were – and remain – radically antistatist. Until roughly the twentieth century the United States did not want, need, nor create a powerful administrative state to govern itself, let alone others abroad. This essay explores that peculiar paradox, namely how Americans govern as the last global superpower today, yet retain an inherently fierce hostility to government. The thesis that is developed argues that it is a deep–rooted reformist faith which ultimately shapes US statecraft as a unique style of reformcraft, with both benign and not–sobenign consequences.
ISSN:0033-3298
1467-9299
DOI:10.1111/1467-9299.00335