ABSTRACT
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) provide an important empirical site for the examination of the new imageries of self-governance because they are the point at which private commercial interests are invited to interact with government in the pursuit of public policy objectives. This chapter explores the institutional design for self-governance, including the measures that were introduced to ensure that the public interest would be represented and assured, and private interests would be constrained. It provides insights into the self-governance imagery in the field of public-private partnerships through the use of two case studies a strategic service delivery partnership and a business improvement district. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected through interview, analysis of relevant documents, and observation. The data are presented anonymously, in line with the ethical agreement between the researcher and actors in the case study sites. The strategic service delivery partnership (SSDP) is intended to facilitate self-governance by the SSDP's managers, but within regulatory framework that protects the public interest.
