Can Governments Still Get Things Done?

Can governments still get things done? Governments seem to be struggling in a high-tech and at the same time fragmenting society. Think, for example, of the Child Care Benefit Scandal in the Netherlands. In this special issue the central question is “Can governments still get things done?” Different paradigms can be distinguished around government and governance: bureaucracy, new public management and public value. In studying the central question, three perspectives are distinguished: macro, meso and micro. The different contributions to this special issue cover various phases in the policy process. This special issue shows a shift from general arrangements to tailor-made solutions and from screen bureaucracy to a more human-sized approach. It also illustrates the importance of recognizing system characteristics in cases of policy failure.