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The four years of the Bush presidency cover a momentous era in American and world history. In international affairs the events in Eastern Europe and the then Soviet Union in late 1989 gave the President a high profile. The advent of the'New World Order'made the United States pre-eminent: the triumph of the West was assured, with the added bonus of the'peace dividend'as arms control agreements and defense savings seemed imminent. The President's personal popularity flourished in this climate and reached a new peak with the triumph of the allied forces in the Gulf War. The Gulf conflict saw Bush at his most decisive: firm in his moral stance, skilled in his action to bring together allied support backed by the United Nations, and confident in his handling of public opinion.

How do governments govern today and how well do they do it? How do governments choose the tools or instruments they will use to get things done? In today's world, how could these decisions be improved from the standpoint of efficiency, effectiveness, legitimacy and accountability?'Designing Government'brings together leading experts to examine the'instrument choice'perspective on government and public policy over the past two decades. The authors examine such issues as accountability, effectiveness, sustainability, legitimacy, and the impact of globalization. The debate is enriched by contributors from several countries who provide a comparative context and, most importantly, help chart a course for the future. Moving beyond the traditional regulatory sphere and its preoccupations with deregulation and efficiency, the authors trace the complex relationships between instrument choices and governance.'Designing Government'encourages the reader to consider factors in the design of complex mixes, such as issues of redundancy, context, the rule of law and accountability. These latter factors are especially central in today's world to the design and implementation of effective instrument choices by governments and, ultimately, to good governance. The authors conclude, in fact, that seeing instrument choice itself as part and parcel of designing government and achieving good governance is both the promise and the challenge for instrument-based perspectives in the years ahead. Contributors include Hans Bressers (University of Twente), Neil Gunningham (Australian National University), John Hoornbeck (University of Pittsburgh), Margaret Hill (Infrastructure Canada), Michael Howlett (Simon Fraser University), Bridget Hutter (London School of Economics and Political Science), Pierre Issalys (Université Laval), Réjean Landry (Laval University), Roderick A. Macdonald (McGill University), Larry O'Toole (University of Georgia), B. Guy Peters (University of Pittsburgh), Michael J. Prince (University of Victoria), Sean Rehaag (University of Toronto), Arthur B. Ringeling (Erasmus University), Stephen J. Toope (McGill University), Michael J. Trebilcock (University of Toronto), Frédéric Varone (Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium), and Kernaghan Webb (Carleton University).

The Reagan presidency has been both eulogised and reviled. Supporters have claimed that Ronald Reagan not only regenerated American power and restored American prestige but changed the direction of domestic policy in a way which marked the end of a twenty year period of expanding government. This book explores the Reagan policy style and substance. It considers the initial aspirations of the two Reagan administrations, examines the constraints with which they had to contend, and assesses the legacy of achievement and failure.