Can Governments Still Get Things Done?

In the reader’s mind, the question underlying this special issue is likely to evokeassociations with failing public policies and slow legislative processes and frompolitical divisions to outright scandals in the public sector. In this sense, it is arhetorical question. Governments indeed seem to be struggling in our high-techand at the same time fragmenting society. Yet – of course – that is not the wholeperspective. There is no doubt that governments still do get a lot done. Rubbish iscollected, public green spaces managed, passports issued and public utilities likeenergy and water supply function almost flawlessly. So where is the pain? How canwe explain the fact that governments are indeed failing in many other areas? Inthis issue, we try to answer these questions.