New Public Governance as a Hybrid: A Critical InterpretationBy LauraCataldi, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2024. 70pp. $22.00 (hardbook). <scp>ISBN</scp>: 978‐1‐00‐945403‐2

In the current era, the book “New Public Governance as a Hybrid” reflects the ongoing complexity and development in public administration. With the shift from traditional public administration models to New Public Management and now to New Public Governance, there is an urgent need to understand how this new approach can address the challenges faced by the public sector in the modern era (Shil and Chowdhury 2023). By emphasizing collaboration and networking among various actors, including the non-profit sector, New Public Governance has the potential to improve the efficiency and responsiveness of public services. However, critical questions also arise regarding accountability and transparency in engaging the non-profit sector, and how administrative practices can safeguard social values. In shaping public policy, it is important to consider existing narratives and ideologies, as this can make readers aware of the dominance of certain ideas in discussions and ignore alternative perspectives. Amidst globalization and technological developments, new challenges have emerged involving issues of privacy and social justice (Harahap et al. 2023). To face these challenges, adaptation of the current model is needed. In addition, public trust in government and non-profit institutions is decreasing, so New Public Governance is needed to help restore legitimacy and trust through more active public participation. An academic with a strong background in public administration and management studies is Laura Cataldi, author of the book “New Public Governance as a Hybrid.” At the University of Eastern Piedmont “Amedeo Avogadro,” she has made major contributions to the development of theory and practice in this field as a lecturer. In her work, Cataldi critically analyzes the concept of New Public Governance by examining the influence of narratives and ideologies on public policy and administrative practices. Laura Cataldi seeks to identify the constraints that New Public Governance faces in an environment of rapid globalization and social shifts, and how the model can adapt to meet the needs of an increasingly complex society. Through in-depth analysis and drawing on a range of literature, Cataldi not only provides new insights into the relationship between New Public Governance and New Public Management, but also encourages readers to consider the impact of hybridization on governance practices. In chapter 1, Laura Cataldi provides an in-depth analysis of the role of administrative narratives in shaping and guiding public policy and governance practices. Her main emphasis is that narratives are not only communication tools, but also function as normative elements and ideas. Cataldi also explains that administrative narratives can influence interactions between the public, private, and non-profit sectors. In addition, narratives can also create conditions that support “third-order governance” Drawing on the work of Kooiman and others, Cataldi explains how administrative narratives. In addition, Cataldi emphasizes that each administrative paradigm has a specific logic and values that influence the functioning of the state and its interactions with its citizens; this means emphasizing the importance of the rhetorical dimension of narratives, which not only serve to explain but also to influence and encourage action in real situations. Thus, Chapter 2 provides meaningful knowledge on how the use of narratives can be a strategic tool in public management and improvement, as well as the difficulties in combining efficiency, accountability, and justice in governance practices. This can expand knowledge on how narratives, policies, and administrative practices are interconnected. In addition, Cataldi also emphasizes the importance of narratives in the context of modern governance from a social and political perspective. Cataldi identifies two main strategies used to analyze New Public Governance: First, it is important to understand that New Public Governance is a complex object of analysis. Next, it is useful to explore how these narratives interact with actual practices in governance. Cataldi states that understanding New Public Governance cannot be separated from the broader social and political context. In this regard, it is important to take an approach that considers the dynamic interactions between various actors such as government, civil society, and the private sector. Drawing on constructivist and discursive theories, Cataldi shows that narratives not only act as carriers of information but also serve the function of shaping perceptions, building coalitions, and facilitating change. We want to emphasize that these narratives are not fixed and can change as policies and practices change. Therefore, this chapter 2 provides opportunities for innovation and adaptation. In addition to providing a framework for the analysis of New Public Governance, it also underlines the importance of enhancing discussions about the interrelationships between theory and practice in modern public administration, as well as the obstacles that arise when combining different perspectives in the analysis of New Public Governance. Chapter 3 critically examines the relationship between New Public Governance and New Public Management. Cataldi identifies New Public Governance as a response to the dominance of the public management paradigm that has been held by New Public Management. Thus, it can be said that New Public Governance emerged as an alternative narrative that emphasizes cooperation, active involvement, and the creation of benefits for society as a whole. We also want to emphasize that New Public Governance does not completely reject the principles of New Public Management, but rather focuses on efforts to incorporate new values that are more inclusive and responsive to the needs of society. This study explores how these two narratives interact and influence each other, as well as the obstacles that arise in implementing New Public Governance principles in government practice. In this final section, the legitimacy and social acceptance of the process of implementing New Public Governance are critically emphasized, as well as the impact of this narrative on society's views of the success and purpose of government. Next, chapter 4 examines the hybrid nature of New Public Governance and how it interacts with New Public Management. Cataldi argues that New Public Governance has not emerged as a completely separate alternative to New Public Management. Rather, it is the result of a complex process of hybridization. In chapter 4, Cataldi argues that hybridization reflects the complexity of modern governance practices. This is due to the challenges of the interaction of models and ideologies. These challenges include the potential conflict between management and democratic values, as well as the difficulty in reaching consensus among various parties in the ecosystem. Drawing on a strong theoretical foundation and empirical data as references, Cataldi provides valuable insights into how New Public Governance can operate in diverse and evolving contexts. In chapter 5, more details are given on the factors driving the hybridization process between New Public Governance and New Public Management. In this section, Cataldi presents four main arguments identified to show how New Public Governance and New Public Management are compatible with each other. The difference in focus between New Public Governance and New Public Management—more oriented to internal organization, while New Public Governance is more on external relations does not prevent elements of both from complementing each other in structural compatibility. Furthermore, New Public Governance does not completely reject the principles of New Public Management. On the contrary, it adopts some key elements of New Public Management, such as the interorganizational approach and coproduction. Furthermore, it is important to emphasize that both New Public Governance and New Public Management take inspiration from the private sector in terms of management practices. However, Cataldi applies different approaches according to the needs and characteristics of each sector. New Public Management tends to take inspiration from market organizations, while New Public Governance focuses more on the dynamics of relations in civil society. Finally, Cataldi shows the oppositional stance that New Public Governance continues to develop within the same framework, even in the absence of a strong alternative, but with an emphasis on more inclusive values. This book consists of 5 chapters, where all chapters of this book are interrelated and related to each other by focusing on explaining the factors that make New Public Management dominant in public administration discussions and practices. First of all, Cataldi's recognition shows that New Public Management provides a set of managerial tools that have been proven effective and recognized in practice, so that they are still relevant for decision makers. In addition, the solid foundation that New Public Management has built in the structure of public organizations provides a strong foundation that is difficult to change or eliminate. Furthermore, it is common knowledge in this book that the concept of New Public Management has been widely known by professionals and students in the field of public administration. This results in a reluctance to accept change. Although there are criticisms of the New Public Management approach, this does not reduce its popularity in public administration because it is considered a solution to existing problems. This book makes a significant contribution to the understanding of the dynamics of modern governance. However, we would like to express some criticisms of the analysis, which is too caught up in generalizations, to the point that important nuances of the approach are overlooked. Focusing on the differences between New Public Governance and New Public Management would have enhanced the understanding of the fundamental differences that exist, especially in the context of the values and goals espoused by each paradigm. However, while the book covers a wide range of relevant literature, it lacks empirical exploration to strengthen the theoretical arguments put forward. Additional case studies or practical analyses of the application of New Public Governance and New Public Management in various contexts would have provided a more complete and in-depth understanding of the implementation of these theories in the real world. Despite these criticisms, this book remains an interesting and important reference for academics, practitioners, and students interested in public administration and policy. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.