The language of public governance referring to changes in the nature and the role of the state has arisen to prominence in the last twenty years across the social, political, and economic sciences. 'Public Governance' has also become a major topic of concern for political and non-profit actors, as evidenced, for example, by its role in shaping the lending criteria of institutions such as the World Bank. A vast literature encompassing contributions derived from many of the leading theories in the contemporary social sciences, including rational choice, institutionalism, functionalism, systems theory, and interpretive approaches can be found across a large range of journals severing different academic disciplines. This four volume set is the first to collect the most significant and insightful articles into a single volume set. Key Features: Elucidates and explains many new trends of public sector reform at the state and local levels, including multi-level governance, new public management, networks, and partnerships Explores these trends and others across many of today's most important areas of policy, such as urban regeneration, the environment, and e-governance Illustrates ethical and political questions about good governance: how might we rethink accountability, social inclusion, and democracy given these extensive changes in political organizations? Public Governance will be an essential purchase for academic libraries around the world. Contents: Volume 1: Theories of Governance Volume 2: Public Sector Reform Volume 3: Public Policy Volume 4: Good Governance