@article{AnheierLangKnudsen, author = {Anheier, Helmut K. and Lang, Markus and Knudsen, Edward L.}, title = {Introducing the Berggruen Governance Index II: Initial results, 2000-2019}, series = {Global Policy}, volume = {14}, journal = {Global Policy}, number = {S4}, doi = {10.1111/1758-5899.13277}, pages = {16 -- 34}, abstract = {This article presents an overview of some of the main findings from our analysis of the Berggruen Governance Index for the 2000-2019 period. It first examines overall governance performance across world regions, singles out general trends and identifies top and bottom performers. It then briefly reviews the comparative governance performance of world powers like the United States, Brazil, China, major European countries, India and Russia as well as other selected countries in the post-Soviet space. Finally, we address more analytic questions to show the versatility of the index for hypothesis testing and theoretical purposes.}, language = {en} } @article{AnheierListKnudsen, author = {Anheier, Helmut K. and List, Regina A. and Knudsen, Edward L.}, title = {Advancing governance indicator systems: Lessons learned from the 2022 symposium}, series = {Global Policy}, volume = {14}, journal = {Global Policy}, number = {S4}, doi = {10.1111/1758-5899.13284}, pages = {136 -- 146}, abstract = {The Berggruen Governance Index (BGI) is a new and innovative entry into the crowded domain of quantitative governance research. In its effort to contribute to the field, the BGI builds off of and acts in dialogue with several other governance indicator projects from across the globe. As part of a collaborative outlook, the BGI convened the first of three symposia at the UCLA Luskin School in October 2022, titled 'Advancing Governance Indicator Systems: The 2022 Conference'. The event invited representatives from other indicator projects to share their thoughts on the BGI, present their own projects and discuss avenues for further research and development of 'planetary' indicators. This article discusses the highlights and key contributions from the conference.}, language = {en} } @article{AnheierLangKnudsen, author = {Anheier, Helmut K. and Lang, Markus and Knudsen, Edward L.}, title = {Introducing the Berggruen Governance Index I: Conceptual and methodological framework}, series = {Global Policy}, volume = {14}, journal = {Global Policy}, number = {S4}, doi = {10.1111/1758-5899.13278}, pages = {5 -- 15}, abstract = {Governance is at the heart of how well governments meet public needs and manage a wide array of common problems. Why do some countries perform poorly in delivering healthcare, reducing inequality, providing a clean environment or delivering some other public good to their populations even while they have the resources to do so? Does the capacity of states to provide the basics for societies to thrive depend on forms of democratic accountability that represents different interests, or are systems under technocratic control that impose solutions and disregard, even suppress, many voices better at meeting public needs? Existing indices do not systematically examine the relationship between the components that contribute to governance performance. In our understanding of governance, depicted as the Governance Triangle, public goods provision is a function of state capacity and accountability. Rather than focusing on a single composite performance measure, the Berggruen Governance Index examines the interactions among these dimensions. We find that the key to good governance is achieving a balance among the three dimensions on an upward and sustainable trajectory. This article introduces the Index and the conceptual and methodological framework that underpins it and then outlines the content of this special issue.}, language = {en} } @article{Knudsen, author = {Knudsen, Edward L.}, title = {A falling star? Origins of declining state capacity and democratic accountability in the United States}, series = {Global Policy}, volume = {14}, journal = {Global Policy}, number = {S4}, publisher = {Wiley}, issn = {1758-5880}, doi = {10.1111/1758-5899.13282}, pages = {47 -- 57}, abstract = {AbstractThe United States—often hailed as the 'oldest democracy in the world' and the 'leader of the free world'—has fallen on hard times. In addition to recent headline-grabbing political events that have highlighted its political dysfunction, data from the 2022 Berggruen Governance Index (BGI) reveal that overall state capacity and democratic accountability have been declining for years. Although public goods provision has remained on a steady course, the US still trails much of the developed world. We find this struggling performance is largely the result of neglecting three types of infrastructure: civic, physical and social. Specifically, we argue that the crisis became particularly pronounced due to an insufficient response to the 2008 global financial crisis. Although some recent political achievements could slow the decline, more drastic action will be required to reverse these troubling trends.}, language = {en} } @article{Knudsen, author = {Knudsen, Edward L.}, title = {Escape from the 'lost decades?' Governance challenges in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela}, series = {Global Policy}, volume = {14}, journal = {Global Policy}, number = {S4}, publisher = {Wiley}, issn = {1758-5880}, doi = {10.1111/1758-5899.13279}, pages = {113 -- 123}, abstract = {Much of Latin America has experienced a renewed 'lost decade', failing to substantially expand quality of life since the late 2000s. While the outcomes of governance performance across the largest countries - including Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina - have discrete causes, common themes like internal conflict, corruption, and overreliance on natural resources plague the entire region. Put more generally, the inability to turn democratic accountability into a state mechanism able to deliver economic growth and public goods in a sustainable manner is a liability affecting all five countries. To explore the difficulties that the large Latin American countries have faced in the twenty-first century, this article examines results from the 2022 Berggruen Governance Index, and then presents three key issues facing the region: insufficient state capacity, flirtations with authoritarianism, and economic inequality and inflation. While the challenges remain substantial, increased regional integration may offer one way out of the predicament.}, language = {en} } @article{Knudsen, author = {Knudsen, Edward L.}, title = {Stable or stagnant? Political economy and governance in the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany since 2000}, series = {Global Policy}, volume = {14}, journal = {Global Policy}, number = {S4}, publisher = {Wiley}, issn = {1758-5880}, doi = {10.1111/1758-5899.13271}, pages = {90 -- 103}, abstract = {At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the large democracies of Western Europe experienced some of the most prosperous and peaceful decades in human history. Specifically, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany experienced high and stable quality of life, democratic accountability and state capacity between 2000 and 2019, according to the 2022 Berggruen Governance Index. While all four of these countries are among the top performers in the Index, substantial problems lurk beneath the surface. Notably, each failed to capitalise on the low interest rate environment in the decade following the global financial crisis of 2007-2009—albeit in different ways and for different reasons in each country. In particular, low investment in infrastructure and key technologies, the persistence of stubborn regional inequalities, and resulting sluggish GDP growth have prevented the 'Big Four' in Western Europe from improving further and future-proofing their existing gains.}, language = {en} } @techreport{AnheierKnudsenToddTombini, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Anheier, Helmut K. and Knudsen, Edward L. and Todd-Tombini, Sofia}, title = {The New Nationalisms and the Future of Cultural Relations: External Cultural Policy in an Age of Political Extremes}, publisher = {ifa (Institut f{\"u}r Auslandsbeziehungen e.V.)}, address = {Stuttgart}, doi = {10.17901/1493}, pages = {55}, abstract = {This paper explores the impact of rising nationalism on soft power by analysing the external cultural policies (ECP) of eight countries: Germany, France, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, Russia, and Turkey. It argues that ECP will increasingly operate in a zero-sum international environment shaped by nationalism, with its domestic effects varying across nations. While institutions in France are more exposed to nationalist influence, the 'arm's length' principle offers greater protection in the UK and Germany, and the diversity of private actors serves as a protective buffer in the United States. Nationalistic ECP in China, Russia, and Turkey is anticipated to grow, while Poland exemplifies institutional resistance to nationalism. The paper then proceeds into a case study of the current discourse in Germany, contrasting the views of different nationalist parties about German ECP. Finally, recommendations are proposed for countries like Germany and other European nations: support the arm's-length principle of key institutions; enhance coordination among ECP actors domestically and within the EU; shield against malign foreign influence; create and communicate anti-nationalist narratives; proactively leveraging existing strengths and opportunities.}, language = {en} } @techreport{KnudsenAnheierSaraceno, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Knudsen, Edward L. and Anheier, Helmut K. and Saraceno, Joseph C.}, title = {Fiscal Austerity, Economic Stagnation, and Public Scandal: Governance Performance in the United Kingdom Ahead of the 2024 Election}, publisher = {Berggruen Governance Project}, address = {United States of America}, pages = {iii, 9}, abstract = {This report evaluates the governance performance of the United Kingdom ahead of the 2024 election, focusing on the interplay between fiscal austerity, economic stagnation, and public scandal. Despite a high initial governance performance in terms of democratic accountability, state capacity, and public goods provision, recent years have seen a notable decline in state capacity due to austerity measures and political scandals. These have eroded public trust and highlighted the need for structural reforms. Key recommendations include enhancing investment in public services, improving regional economic policies, and addressing the UK's growing fiscal challenges to restore trust and ensure long-term growth.}, language = {en} } @techreport{KnudsenAnheierSaraceno, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Knudsen, Edward L. and Anheier, Helmut K. and Saraceno, Joseph}, title = {Political Instability and Economic Development in the Sahel: Governance in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Sudan since 2000}, publisher = {UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs}, address = {Los Angeles}, pages = {19}, abstract = {The 2020s have been a troubled decade so far for many countries in the Sahel. Although a serious of coups and widespread political instability in the region have dominated headlines, findings from the Berggruen Governance Index (BGI) indicate this grim picture may be incomplete. Indeed, the BGI finds some notable improvements, especially in public good provision, where some of the Sahel countries profiled in this report are among the most improved worldwide since 2000. However, these improvements rest on shaky ground, as countries in the region have long been trapped by unsustainable economic policies that focus almost exclusively on exploiting the natural resources of the region. This can lead to a vicious cycle of economic and institutional underdevelopment and political dysfunction, as extractive industries lead to elite capture, and uneven and unsustainable growth patterns, with high levels of corruption and violence among those competing for resources, reliance on overseas development aid, and eventually vulnerabilities to geopolitical influence. To address these interlocking weaknesses, this report suggests a dual economic strategy to form the foundations for more resilient institutions: 1) making more productive use of natural resources by building up capacity for higher in-country value-added through domesticating production chains; and 2) building high-tech partnerships with more developed countries to manage climate change and build sustainable agriculture. Based on such economic gains, greater fiscal and administrative state capacities could then be leveraged to create more durable governance institutions, further enabling more resilient development.}, language = {en} } @techreport{SaracenoAnheierKnudsen, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Saraceno, Joseph and Anheier, Helmut K. and Knudsen, Edward L.}, title = {Towards A New Global Contestation? Comparing the Governance Performance of G7 and BRICS+ Nations}, publisher = {UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs}, address = {Los Angeles}, pages = {18}, abstract = {The expansion of the BRICS to the BRICS+ group of countries potentially reflects a major geopolitical shift. This change indicates the possibility of rising tensions with the Group of Seven (G7), a collection of wealthy liberal democracies. The growing importance of BRICS and BRICS+ countries raises important questions about how their governance performance compares to G7 countries in terms of providing public goods such as social security, health and environmental protection. The report explores these questions with the help of the Berggruen Governance Index, which measures the governance performance of countries using three major dimensions and their relationship between each other: democratic accountability (quality of democracy), state capacity (quality of governance) and public goods provision (quality of life). In relation to the first question, the report finds that the G7 outperforms BRICS+ in all three governance dimensions. However, advances in the provision of public goods have been significant in some BRICS+ countries, even as state capacity and/or democratic accountability declined. This finding challenges the "autocratic fallacy," which states that authoritarian governance cannot effectively scale public goods, and that broad-based prosperity is correlated with adherence to democratic principles. It would further challenge the notion that democracy and wellbeing are the common telos of how countries develop over time. At the same time, results indicate that, rather than seeking fuller confrontation with G7 countries, most BRICS+ members engage in a mix of cooperation and contestation to gauge opportunities while mitigating risks in uncertain geopolitical conditions.}, language = {en} }