The importance of governance
The perspective on governance outlined in this book is focused on the state: on its role in governance and how the emergence and challenge of governance affect the state in different respects. The choice of analytical perspective is not chosen arbitrarily. We pursue a state-centric model of analysis because the state, despite persistent rumours the key political actor in society and the predominant expression of collective interests. We believe that the role of the state is not decreasing as we head into the third millennium but rather that its role is transforming, from a role based in constitutional powers towards a role based in coordination and fusion of public and private resources (Evans, 1997; Payne,2000).