Governance for sustaining trust in a complex world

Abstract

Objectivism, universalism, mechanism, atomism and monism are five elements of modernist thought that have deeply influenced Australian governance in the past century. This has led to a form of administrative rationalism that has been further influenced by neoliberal economic policies that together have not played well for resilience. Confidence in monocentric, "one shoe fits all" solutions to all forms of governance has waned and in its place is emerging "polycentrism" with multiple decision making centres retaining considerable autonomy. But there are now large vested interests in monocentric solutions that will be difficult to confront as Australia moves towards a more resilient and more open approach to its public administration that better incorporates the inputs from civil society.