The Capacity to Govern

Published 2001 – The inadequacies of contemporary forms of governance are increasingly recognized: the brain drain from politics, distrust of governments, the danger of mass media and money-dominated elections, and the failure of governments to find good policy options on major issues. Industry, civil society and non-governmental organizations, however important, cannot compensate for government’s incapacity to shape the future, which only it is democratically entitled to do. Radical improvements in governance are urgently needed, but salient proposals are scarce. This book diagnoses contemporary governments as obsolete and proposes changes in values, structures, staffing, public understanding and political culture to equip governance for the radically novel challenges of the 21st century. This is the first Report dealing with governance commissioned and approved by the Club of Rome, testifying to the significance of this book.

Author: Yeḥezḳel Dror

Available at Routledge

Other Publications

The End of Population Growth

The End of Population Growth

09 February 2026 - The era of population growth is ending - and societies are unprepared, argues Ugo Bardi in this report to the Club of Rome. In The End of Population Growth, systems scientist and author Ugo Bardi argues that population decline is likely to begin...

Rewiring finance for transformative innovation

Rewiring finance for transformative innovation

04 December 2025 - This report, developed with the EIB Institute, sets out how Europe can reconfigure finance to support transformative innovation – the kind needed to respond to interconnected ecological, social and economic crises. It argues that today’s financial...

Young person’s guide to storytelling

Young person’s guide to storytelling

25 November 2025 - The Young person’s guide to storytelling from The 50 Percent (a platform for young leaders supported by The Fifth Element and the Club of Rome) is a practical and accessible guide that helps young people understand how storytelling can counter...

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