The Governance of Food Security in Europe: Collaborative Street-Level Bureaucracies and Learning in Turbulent Times

By: Maria Stella Righettini

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Synopsis: This book examines the governance of food security policy in Europe amid political crises and turbulence. Focusing on detailed case studies of the Fund for European Aid, food aid programs implemented across Italian cities during the Covid-19 pandemic, and initiatives in the metropolitan areas of Milan and Warsaw, it assesses the ways in which frontline workers have sought to reshape public policy to address urgent community needs. In doing so, the book draws attention to various collaborative learning mechanisms between street-level bureaucrats and third-sector organizations in food-assistance delivery, and the ways in which collaboration is constrained by institutional features that hinder its institutionalization in specific contexts. It also highlights the importance of trust and learning, both in delivering more resilient food security strategies, and in multilevel governance more generally. The book will appeal to all those interested in public policy, governance, and European politics.