Posts from the ‘CGDAR’ Category

Aug 21

Talks at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies

On September 4-7 I’ll give three talks at the School of Economics, Administration and Public Policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies:

On September 4, I’ll give a public lecture about my forthcoming book, Superstates: Empires of the Twenty-First Century. Title for the talk: “Superstates: What Empires Teach Us About Running Large Countries.” PPT slides for that talk here.

On September 7, I’ll talk to PhD students about my 2020 book Strategies for Governing. PPT slides for that talk are here.

On the same day, I’ll talk to SEAPP students about my 2018 book, Can Government Do Anything Right? PPT slides for that talk here.

While in Doha I also participated in a book launch at the HBKU College of Public Policy. Story here.

Sep 16

Fiorina, Medvic, Flinders comment on “Can Government Do Anything Right?”

cgdar_sm-border Comments on Can Government Do Anything Right?, forthcoming from Polity Books in January 2018:

“This contrarian work is a welcome corrective to the doom and gloom commentary that is so common today. Not only that, it’s a good read as well. It will get an intensive workout in college seminars.” — Morris P. Fiorina, Stanford University

“Governing, particularly in democracies, is difficult and often frustrating work. In this vital new book, Alasdair Roberts explains why by identifying the multiple constraints imposed on political leaders. More importantly, he makes a convincing case that, over time, Western governments have successfully adapted to these constraints and have been largely effective at addressing the challenges they face. At a time when so many citizens are disenchanted with their governments, the argument in this book deserves a wide audience.” — Stephen K. Medvic, Franklin & Marshall College

“In a world dominated by narratives of democratic crisis and decline Alasdair Roberts reveals the innate complexities of modern governance and political statecraft. In a book that is as clear and accessible as it is intellectually thoughtful and provocative, Roberts offers a positive and optimistic account of contemporary politics. It offers an energising breadth of fresh air in what is otherwise a fairly gloomy scholarly space.” — Matthew Flinders, University of Sheffield, President of the Political Studies Association of the United Kingdom.

Nov 1