While being optimists about the human potential for learning (and therefor natural believers in 'progress' in human affairs),we do not buy the 'ever onwards and upwards' storyline. A credible approach to public management and governance has to accept and try to explain the serious lurches backwards which have continually been experienced. Of course, by using a term such as 'backwards', we imply that it is possible to discern what a ‘forward’ movement looks like in public management and governance. This is what this chapter will seek to explore.