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Political Science Public Affairs & Administration

Crippling Epistemologies and Governance Failures

A Plea for Experimentalism

by (author) Gilles Paquet

Publisher
University of Ottawa Press
Initial publish date
Apr 2009
Category
Public Affairs & Administration, Methodology
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780776618104
    Publish Date
    Apr 2009
    List Price
    $14.99
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780776607030
    Publish Date
    Apr 2009
    List Price
    $29.00

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Description

In Crippling Epistemologies and Governance Failures, Gilles Paquet criticizes the prevailing practices of the social sciences on the basis of their inadequate concepts of knowledge, evidence and inquiry, concepts he claims have become methodological “mental prisons”. Paquet describes the prevailing policy development process in Canada in terms of its weak information infrastructure, poor accountability, and inflexible organization design. In contrast, he suggests that social science and public policy should promote forms of “serious play” that would allow organizations to experiment with new structures.

Paquet engages with numerous foundationalist programs in the social sciences in order to show their inadequacy and suggests important and unexplored directions in policy areas as diverse as education, science, health, intergovernmental and foreign policy. He closes the work with a plea for experimentalism in academic research, policy development, and organization design.

About the author

Gilles Paquet is professor emeritus at the Telfer School of Management and senior research fellow at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa. He has authored or edited over 35 books and published a large number of papers on economics, public management and governance.

Gilles Paquet's profile page

Editorial Reviews

“Paquet’s vigorous plea that mediocrity need not be accepted must be read and acted upon.” - Patrice Dutil, Literary Review of Canada

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