TY - JOUR A1 - Anheier, Helmut K. A1 - List, Regina A. A1 - Knudsen, Edward L. T1 - Advancing governance indicator systems: Lessons learned from the 2022 symposium JF - Global Policy N2 - 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. Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.13284 N1 - Open Access publication is funded by the Hertie School Library VL - 14 IS - S4 SP - 136 EP - 146 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Anheier, Helmut K. A1 - Lang, Markus A1 - Knudsen, Edward L. T1 - Introducing the Berggruen Governance Index I: Conceptual and methodological framework JF - Global Policy N2 - 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. Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.13278 N1 - Open Access publication is funded by the Hertie School Library VL - 14 IS - S4 SP - 5 EP - 15 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Knudsen, Edward L. T1 - A falling star? Origins of declining state capacity and democratic accountability in the United States JF - Global Policy N2 - 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. Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.13282 SN - 1758-5880 N1 - Open Access publication is funded by the Hertie School Library VL - 14 IS - S4 SP - 47 EP - 57 PB - Wiley ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Knudsen, Edward L. T1 - Escape from the ‘lost decades?’ Governance challenges in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela JF - Global Policy N2 - 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. Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.13279 SN - 1758-5880 N1 - Open Access publication is funded by the Hertie School Library VL - 14 IS - S4 SP - 113 EP - 123 PB - Wiley ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Knudsen, Edward L. T1 - Stable or stagnant? Political economy and governance in the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany since 2000 JF - Global Policy N2 - 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. Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.13271 SN - 1758-5880 N1 - Open Access publication is funded by the Hertie School Library VL - 14 IS - S4 SP - 90 EP - 103 PB - Wiley ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Anheier, Helmut K. A1 - Knudsen, Edward L. A1 - Todd-Tombini, Sofia T1 - The New Nationalisms and the Future of Cultural Relations: External Cultural Policy in an Age of Political Extremes N2 - 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. Y1 - 2024 U6 - https://doi.org/10.17901/1493 PB - ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen e.V.) CY - Stuttgart ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Knudsen, Edward L. A1 - Anheier, Helmut K. A1 - Saraceno, Joseph C. T1 - Fiscal Austerity, Economic Stagnation, and Public Scandal: Governance Performance in the United Kingdom Ahead of the 2024 Election N2 - 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. Y1 - 2024 UR - https://policycommons.net/artifacts/13389711/uk_election/14287485/ PB - Berggruen Governance Project CY - United States of America ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Knudsen, Edward L. A1 - Anheier, Helmut K. A1 - Saraceno, Joseph C. T1 - Fiscal Austerity, Economic Stagnation, and Public Scandals: Governance Performance in the United Kingdom Ahead of the 2024 Election N2 - As the United Kingdom heads to the polls on July 4th, 2024, the country faces several interlocking crises. Post-2010 austerity measures and the decision to leave the EU have left long-term scars on the United Kingdom´s economy, leading to an economic drift away from other wealthy countries. Changes in key indicators such a productivity and regional inequality highlight this trend. While its governance performance has been among the highest worldwide – in terms of democratic accountability (quality of democracy), state capacity (quality of government) and public goods provision (quality of life) – there are signs of stagnation and erosion, particular in state capacity. Since the latter is a major mediating factor in democracy’s ability to produce public goods, there is an urgent need for structural change if the country is to avoid succumbing to even more severe problems impacting its future quality of life. However, any reform effort must weigh the pressing need for public investments with the country´s growing indebtedness. Y1 - 2024 UR - https://governance.luskin.ucla.edu/publications-2-2/ PB - UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs CY - Los Angeles ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Anheier, Helmut K. A1 - Saraceno, Joseph C. A1 - Knudsen, Edward L. T1 - The 2024 Berggruen Governance Index – Democracy Challenged N2 - THE BERGGRUEN GOVERNANCE INDEX PROJECT (BGI) analyzes the relationship between democratic accountability, state capacity and the provision of public goods. It builds upon prior work that examined the impact of governance and democracy on the quality of life. It is a collaborative project between the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, the Hertie School, and the Berggruen Institute. Y1 - 2024 UR - https://governance.luskin.ucla.edu/publications-2-2/ PB - UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs CY - Los Angeles ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Knudsen, Edward L. A1 - Anheier, Helmut K. A1 - Saraceno, Joseph C. T1 - ‘Lucky’ or Lacking? Economic Development and Political Institutions in Australia T2 - 2024 Berggruen Governance Index N2 - Ahead of an important federal election on May 3rd, Australia boasts some of the world’s most sophisticated political institutions and a wealthy economy. But does this veneer of success mask deeper structural issues? This report finds that, despite strong measures of GDP per capita and state capacity, Australia has long struggled to move its economy past a reliance on commodity exports—notably to China. At the same time, its democratic innovations such as compulsory electoral participation, early adoption of women’s suffrage, and preferential voting conceal a darker history of indigenous dispossession and racial discrimination. To move past these problems, Australia will have to leverage its impressive state capacity and strong educational system to develop a more advanced services sector and foster more complex manufacturing. Given the necessity of innovation clusters in its already-productive cities, this will also require addressing the severe housing crisis in state capitals and encouraging more migration and acceptance of minorities. Only with a more complex economy can Australia ensure future growth and reduce vulnerability to foreign powers like China and the US. KW - Sociology Y1 - 2025 UR - https://ucla.app.box.com/s/m0ngzapoaa18cb9gppv2jbiybvp4jgvv PB - UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs CY - Los Angeles ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Knudsen, Edward L. A1 - Anheier, Helmut K. A1 - Saraceno, Joseph C. T1 - Canada 2025: Governance Challenges Between Resource Reliance and Geopolitical Vulnerability T2 - 2024 Berggruen Governance Index N2 - Although it is wealthy by global standards, Canada’s economy faces key vulnerabilities such as excessive reliance on extractive industries, shortages of critical goods such as housing, and heavy dependence on exports to the US. For many years, the country has failed to address these systemic problems. Despite scoring highly on most measures of the Berggruen Governance Index (BGI), its performance has been uneven over the last decade. Indeed, while Canada is generally ahead of the United States in terms of governance performance, its scores for state capacity and democratic accountability trail those of many Western European peers. This parallels a broader disillusionment with Canada’s institutions, as public trust in government steadily declined during the 2010s. Addressing systemic challenges will require strident and courageous measures that aim to improve economic diversification and tackle regional inequality. Will the Liberal Party, which has neglected needed reforms for too long—and is now favored to win the elections in April—finally be up to the task? KW - Sociology Y1 - 2025 UR - https://ucla.app.box.com/s/5ospdh0cc7lcqg4uyh3shk90hqrx47od PB - UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs CY - Los Angeles ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Knudsen, Edward L. A1 - Anheier, Helmut K. A1 - Saraceno, Joseph C. T1 - Progress and Polarization in South Korea: Remarkable Economic Ascent Masks Lingering Fractures T2 - 2024 Berggruen Governance Index N2 - On December 3rd, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol imposed martial law in what appeared to be an attempted coup, threatening the country’s hard-fought democracy. Although the attempt was unsuccessful and consequentially led to Yoon Suk-yeol’s removal from office, it exposed lingering challenges in a country that has been one of the century’s great democratic success stories. Using insights from the 2024 Berggruen Governance Index, we discuss South Korea’s remarkable success and trajectory, and the underlying fragilities in the country that pose threats to democratic stability and governance. Indeed, South Korea has made a remarkable transition from being a war-torn, impoverished, and autocratic nation to one of economic growth and impressive democratization. We find that South Korea consistently ranks very high in democratic accountability, public goods provision, and state capacity. Yet, emerging and ongoing challenges polarize the country. South Korea is in a precarious geopolitical situation with its rival neighbor North Korea, and continues to encounter issues such as gender polarization, economic inequality, and overwork. Moving forward, South Korea must grapple with these societal divisions and the legacy from its authoritarian past. Yet, it has one of the most highly educated societies in the world, a civically engaged population that will be key to protecting the remarkable democracy and economic success that it has already achieved. KW - Sociology Y1 - 2025 UR - https://ucla.app.box.com/s/3fj98wa8p9yptz0cerf2ssdfb8hohipt PB - UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs CY - Los Angeles ER -