Privatizing responsibility: public sector reform under neoliberal government.
In light of public sector reforms in Canada and elsewhere, this paper focuses on the shift of emphasis from social to private responsibilities and raises new questions about the forces of private enterprise and market-based partnerships. Under neoliberal governmental agendas, privatizing responsibility links to three main developments: the reconsideration of the relations of public and private; the mobilization of responsible citizenship; and the formation of a cultural mentality of rule that works alongside these developments. The research for this article is based on extensive analysis of policy documents and public sector reform initiatives, as well as interviews with Canadian federal public service employees.
Ilcan
Suzan
S
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4. silcan@uwindsor.ca
D002170:Canada; D003469:Culture; D035082:Federal Government / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D011057:Politics; D011332:Privatization / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*; D011640:Public Policy / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*; D017150:Public Sector / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends*; D012941:Social Responsibility; D014838:Volunteers / Q000266:history