Plural societies present unique problems for nation-building and post-conflict reconstruction. The histories, cultures, economic development, social organization, and geographic conditions that render such societies plural, give rise to intensely conflicting collective expectations and demands which adversely effects state-formation and any ensuing prospects for reconstruction. This book highlights innovations and best practices in specific cases, and presents a set of policy-relevant recommendations.

There are many indications that American politics is now marked by sharper divisions and more intense conflicts than has typically been the case. Despite the seemingly deep divisions in the American electorate, there is little agreement on what polarization is and what it means for democratic government in the United States. This book provides a comprehensive assessment of polarization within the US and its impact on policymaking.

Available in December of 2008, The State of Access: Successes and Failures of Democracy in Creating Equal Opportunities explores the ways in which democratic institutions fail to deliver equal opportunities to all citizens. The discussions address the mechanisms and root-causes that lead to such exclusion and examine real life innovations for improving inclusive access to government services.

Based on the insights of the Network Performance Project, Unlocking the Power of Networks explores networked governance practices for improving government performance and identifies the next generation of issues in network management and procurement. Funded by the Smith Richardson Foundation, the Network Performance Project brings together prominent academic thinkers in the field of public administration to analyze issues of public governance, network forms of government, and third-party government. The books’ cases include California’s environmental management networks and Indiana’s eligibility modernizations. Available in January 2009, Unlocking the Power of Networks is part of the Innovative Governance in the 21st Century Book Series, co-published by the Brookings Institution Press and the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation.