Rationality and Power

Rationality and Power PDF Author: Bent Flyvbjerg
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 9780226254494
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 308

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Book Description
In the Enlightenment tradition, rationality is considered well-defined. However, the author of this study argues that rationality is context-dependent, and that the crucial context is determined by decision-makers' political power. He uses a real-world Danish project to illustrate this theory.

Rationality and Power

Rationality and Power PDF Author: Bent Flyvbjerg
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 9780226254494
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 308

Get Book Here

Book Description
In the Enlightenment tradition, rationality is considered well-defined. However, the author of this study argues that rationality is context-dependent, and that the crucial context is determined by decision-makers' political power. He uses a real-world Danish project to illustrate this theory.

Paper on Bent Flyvbjerg's "Rationality and Power"

Paper on Bent Flyvbjerg's Author: Jana Petzka
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 363883381X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 21

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Book Description
Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject Politics - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,0, Utrecht University (School of Governance), course: Implementation between plan and practice, language: English, abstract: This review is on a book on planning with the background not in social sciences but in urban planning and geosciences, it therefore is categorized as a major contribution to planning theory rather than to political theory(see Peattie 2001:252). But sure enough, it would not be object of this analysis if its relevance and tenor were not relevant for policy practitioners. And not only them, since the various contents are also of interest to students and academic personnel of administration and politics, anthropology and sociology and constitute furthermore a meaningful laboratory-like supplement to political philosophy courses. The book itself creates new possibilities for an inspired dialogue between researchers and practitioners. Flyvbjerg sets out to show how power creates its own reality, uses rationality to rationalize its decisions, and strategically switches between political and expert discourses as it needs to in order to get what it wants using the Aalborg Project as a metaphor of comprehensive planning. This scientific book review will not only evolve around the pure contents, sense making and theoretical conceptualization of Flyvbjerg’s Rationality and Power, but will include to implicate input and attempt a comparison with Pressman & Wildavsky’s Implementation and writings by Buchanan & Boddy as well as Siebers.

Making Social Science Matter

Making Social Science Matter PDF Author: Bent Flyvbjerg
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521775687
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 218

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Book Description
New approach demonstrating how social science can be successful, focusing on context, values, and power.

Megaprojects and Risk

Megaprojects and Risk PDF Author: Bent Flyvbjerg
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521009461
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 226

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Book Description
Megaprojects and Risk provides the first detailed examination of the phenomenon of megaprojects. It is a fascinating account of how the promoters of multi-billion dollar megaprojects systematically and self-servingly misinform parliaments, the public and the media in order to get projects approved and built. It shows, in unusual depth, how the formula for approval is an unhealthy cocktail of underestimated costs, overestimated revenues, undervalued environmental impacts and overvalued economic development effects. This results in projects that are extremely risky, but where the risk is concealed from MPs, taxpayers and investors. The authors not only explore the problems but also suggest practical solutions drawing on theory, experience and hard, scientific evidence from the several hundred projects in twenty nations and five continents that illustrate the book. Accessibly written, it will be the standard reference for students, scholars, planners, economists, auditors, politicians and interested citizens for many years to come.

Policy and Planning for Large Infrastructure Projects

Policy and Planning for Large Infrastructure Projects PDF Author: Bent Flyvbjerg
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN:
Category : Economic development projects
Languages : en
Pages : 32

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Book Description
Abstract: "This paper focuses on problems and their causes and cures in policy and planning for large infrastructure projects. First, it identifies as the main problem in major infrastructure development pervasive misinformation about the costs, benefits, and risks involved. A consequence of misinformation is massive cost overruns, benefit shortfalls, and waste. Second, the paper explores the causes of misinformation and finds that political-economic explanations best account for the available evidence: planners and promoters deliberately misrepresent costs, benefits, and risks in order to increase the likelihood that it is their projects, and not the competition's, that gain approval and funding. This results in the "survival of the unfittest," where often it is not the best projects that are built, but the most misrepresented ones. Finally, the paper presents measures for reforming policy and planning for large infrastructure projects, with a focus on better planning methods and changed governance structures, the latter being more important."--World Bank web site.

Rationality and Power

Rationality and Power PDF Author: Bent Flyvbjerg
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 9780226254494
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
"It's like the story of Little Town," an influential actor says in Rationality and Power when choosing a metaphor to describe how he manipulated rationality to gain power, "The bell ringer . . . has to set the church clock. So he calls the telephone exchange and asks what time it is, and the telephone operator looks out the window towards the church clock and says, 'It's five o'clock.' 'Good,' says the bell ringer, 'then my clock is correct.'" In the Enlightenment tradition, rationality is considered well-defined, independent of context; we know what rationality is, and its meaning is constant across time and space. Bent Flyvbjerg shows that rationality is context-dependent and that the crucial context is determined by decision-makers' power. Power blurs the dividing line between rationality and rationalization. The result is a rationality that is often as imaginary as the time in Little Town, yet with very real social and environmental consequences. Flyvbjerg takes us behind the scenes to uncover the real politics—and real rationality—of policy-making, administration, and planning in an internationally acclaimed project for environmental improvement, auto traffic reduction, land use, and urban renewal. The action takes place in the Danish city of Aalborg, but it could be anywhere. Aalborg is to Flyvbjerg what Florence was to Machiavelli: a laboratory for understanding power and what it means for our more general concerns of social and political organization. Policy-making, administration, and planning are examined in ways that allow a rare, in-depth understanding. The reader is a firsthand witness to the classic, endless drama that defines what democracy and modernity are, and what they can be. The result is a fascinating narrative that is both concrete and general, current and timeless. Drawing on the ideas of Machiavelli, Nietzsche, Foucault, and Habermas, Flyvbjerg reads the Aalborg case as a metaphor of modernity and of modern politics, administration, and planning. Flyvbjerg uncovers the interplay of power and rationality that distorts policy deliberation. He demonstrates that modern "rationality" is but an ideal when confronted with the real rationalities involved in decision making by central actors in government, economy, and civil society. Flyvbjerg then elaborates on how this problem can be dealt with so that more fruitful deliberation and action can occur. If the new millennium marks a recurrence of the real, Flyvbjerg's Rationality and Power epitomizes this development, setting new standards for social and political inquiry. Richly informed, powerfully argued, and clearly written, this is a book that no one trying to understand policy-making, administration, and planning can afford to overlook. "Flyvbjerg employs a wide-ranging intellect, an enthusiastic and persuasive voice, academic rigor, and great discipline to distill years of research into an outstanding and accessible 250-page civics lesson. It begs for a readership outside academic and professional circles . . . Rationality and Power's value is undeniable as a handbook and forensic tool for anyone seeking a better understanding of and access to the democratic process."—Arkansas Democrat-Gazette "It makes an extremely strong, and to the reviewer's mind incontrovertible, argument for placing the analysis of planning within the context of power relations. As a result it will also make a significant mark on the development of planning theory."—Geographical Journal "A book that is to be recommended doubly, first to all those engaged in planning and implementation in a democratic context, and also to all those interested in empirical power research. Rationality and Power is rewarding even enthralling reading, a seminal contribution to its field."—European Societies "This book is a must for anyone interested in how planning works . . . a reality shock . . . excellent and illuminating."—International Planning Studies

Making Political Science Matter

Making Political Science Matter PDF Author: Sanford Schram
Publisher: NYU Press
ISBN: 0814740332
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 313

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Book Description
Discusses the state of the field of Political Science. This book talks about the usefulness of rational choice theory; the ethical limits of pluralism; the use (and misuse) of empirical research; the divorce between political theory and empirical science; and the connection between political science scholarship and political struggles. a "Making Political Science Matter" brings together a number of prominent scholars to discuss the state of the field of Political Science. In particular, these scholars are interested in ways to reinvigorate the discipline by connecting it to present day political struggles. Uniformly well-written and steeped in a strong sense of history, the contributors consider such important topics as: the usefulness of rational choice theory; the ethical limits of pluralism; the use (and misuse) of empirical research in political science; the present-day divorce between political theory and empirical science; the connection between political science scholarship and political struggles, and the future of the discipline. This volume builds on the debate in the discipline over the significance of the work of Bent Flyvbjerg, whose book "Making Social Science Matter" has been characterized as a manifesto for the Perestroika Movement that has roiled the field in recent years

The Oxford Handbook of Megaproject Management

The Oxford Handbook of Megaproject Management PDF Author: Bent Flyvbjerg
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198732244
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 625

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Book Description
This Handbook provides state-of-the-art scholarship in the emerging field of megaproject management. The 25 chapters cover all aspects of megaproject management, from front-end planning to project delivery, including how to deal with stakeholders, risk, finance, complexity, innovation, governance, ethics, project breakdowns, and scale itself.

Real Social Science

Real Social Science PDF Author: Bent Flyvbjerg
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107000254
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 321

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Book Description
A new, hands-on approach to social inquiry for social scientists who wish to make a difference to policy and practice.

Encyclopedia of Power

Encyclopedia of Power PDF Author: Keith Dowding
Publisher: SAGE
ISBN: 141292748X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 785

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Book Description
Collects 381 entries that discuss political science, international relations, and sociology.