4. Governments Fit for the Future: Lessons in building resilience

In this chapter I will explore the topic of building more resilient communities and public institutions, drawn from the lessons of the ‘New Synthesis Project’ (Bourgon 2011). The theme of resilience is very much related to the theme of the social context or landscape within which governments are called upon to serve, the increasing complexity of the issues they have to deal with, and the increasing volatility of the environment within which they have to make policy decisions and take action. For some, the concept of resilience brings to mind images of catastrophic failures, natural disasters and pandemic diseases, because resilience is on such strong display in those circumstances. But I prefer to explore the concept of resilience in a softer way. Yes, it is strongly on display when you say a society is able to weather a crisis and emerge from it stronger than before. I would argue, however, that resilience is also on display when countries and public institutions show they are able to adapt, evolve and transform themselves in response to changing circumstances—and are able to do it in a manner tha