Experiments with joined-up, horizontal and whole-of-government in Anglophone countries

This chapter considers a range of horizontal experiments from the last decade drawing on the experience of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It examines factors that account for the emergence of this distinctive ‘movement’ in these countries and the several strands that have contended for distinctiveness. The issues with realizing and sustaining effective horizontal government are common across the four countries. The prospects are both somewhat discouraging, judged by the mixed results of the experiments, and propitious in that the horizontal government continues to move into the mainstream.