The Programme Approach to the Growth of Government

Abstract

In order to understand the dynamics of contemporary government, we must considerwhatgovernment does as well aswhyit grows. This is true whether theories seek to explain past growth or are hypotheses about future developments. Political science has a unique responsibility to address this problem, because it is the discipline for which government is central. Whereas economists and sociologists can produce models that treat political change as epiphenomenal, political scientists must identify what it is that changes when government changes.