Street-Level Bureaucracy in Weak State Institutions - by Rik Peeters & Gabriela Lotta & Fernando Nieto-Morales (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In this book, street-level bureaucracy scholars from South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America analyse the conditions that shape frontline work and citizens´ everyday experience of the state.

Institutional factors such as political clientelism, resource scarcity, social inequality, job insecurity, and systemic corruption affect the way street-level bureaucrats enforce rules and implement policies. Inadvertently, they end up implementing inequities in citizens' access to rights and services -- despite efforts to repair organisational deficiencies and broker relations between vulnerable citizens and a distant state. This book illuminates these realities and challenges and provides unique insights into critical themes such as resource scarcities, bureaucratic corruption, control practices, and the complexities of dealing with vulnerable population groups.

Review Quotes

"A milestone for a truly global perspective on frontline workers, this important and smart book was much awaited. Scholars of street-level bureaucracy, comparative politics, and development studies will learn from it." Eva Thomann, University of Konstanz

"The book serves as a valuable source for anyone interested in understanding and addressing the complexities of policy implementation and SLB in contexts characterized by weak state institutions." Public Administration and Development

About the Author

Rik Peeters is Associate Professor of Public Administration at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE).

Gabriela Lotta is Associate Professor of Public Administration at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV).

Fernando Nieto-Morales is Associate Professor of Public Administration at El Colegio de México.