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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Ewan MackenzieORCiD, Dr Edward Barratt
This is the authors' accepted manuscript of a book chapter that has been published in its final definitive form by Routledge , 2019.
For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Against the background of the era of economic austerity, this chapter presents case study evidence showing how efforts to promote project management at a British local authority rely on the work of freelance consultants. Inspired by Foucauldian scholarship, we conceive the expertise of project management as a technology of governmental power, commenting on the practices and identities of the consultants. We show them to be advocates of their own distinctive understandings and ways of enacting project expertise, whilst also showing how certain forms of tactical yet limited ‘resistance’ are defined by the key targets of their intervention: local government workers. The broader implications and dangers of project management for democracy in local government in the UK are considered.
Author(s): Mackenzie E, Barratt E
Editor(s): Hodgson, D; Freds, M; Bailey, S.J; Hall, P;
Series Editor(s): Osborne, S.P;
Publication type: Book Chapter
Publication status: Published
Book Title: Routledge Critical Studies in Public Management: The Projectification of the Public Sector
Year: 2019
Print publication date: 20/03/2019
Acceptance date: 01/05/2018
Edition: 1st
Series Title: Routledge Critical Studies in Public Management
Publisher: Routledge
Library holdings: Search Newcastle University Library for this item
ISBN: 9780367183332