The Logic of Discipline

Abstract:     
This is the first chapter of a book titled The Logic of Discipline: Global Capitalism and the Architecture of Government, published by Oxford University Press in March 2010. It argues that governmental reform in many sectors has been driven by a design philosophy which I call the logic of discipline. This logic is applied with the aim of restricting popular control over governmental functions that are critical to the operation of a globalized economy. It combines a deep skepticism about the reliability of democratic institutions with a naive faith in the capacity to effect significant systemic change through statutory or constitutional reform. The chapter surveys governmental reforms that are built on the logic of discipline. It questions the desirability and sustainability of this program of governmental redesign, especially after the onset of the global financial crisis.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 19

Keywords: public sector reform, bureaucratic reform, democratization, globalization

Accepted Paper Series