The book by Hertie School faculty Andrea Römmele and Helmut K. Anheier highlights where public administration works, why it works, and what democracy can learn from it.
Across Germany, criticism of slow procedures, complex rules and excessive paperwork is everywhere. A widely held view is that modernising public administration requires cutting red tape and reducing bureaucratic burdens to make room for greater investment. A new book by Hertie School Professors Andrea Römmele and Helmut Anheier takes a different view.
At a time of major technological, ecological and social change, the book argues that public administration should not be seen only as a system of rules and procedures, but as a central part of democratic problem-solving. Its main question is not whether the state can act, but under which conditions reform succeeds in practice.
Vom Gelingen: Wie Reformen glücken und die Demokratie stärken shows what public institutions are capable of when leadership, innovation and collaboration come together and makes the case for a more confident, forward-looking perspective on public administration. The authors, together with Wolfgang Seibel, Senior Fellow and Professor Emeritus at the Hertie School, examine successful cases from energy and climate, AI and digitalisation, infrastructure and mobility, and demography and migration.
From successful cases to broader lessons
Across these examples, the authors identify recurring conditions for success:
- Clear goals
- External expertise
- LeadershipStakeholder management
- Communication
- Trust
Their argument is that effective administration is not a technical side issue, but one of the foundations of democratic stability. If democratic institutions are to remain capable and credible, they must also be able to act, adapt and deliver.
“We wanted to shift the focus from what is not working to what already works in public administration,” said Andrea Römmele. “These examples show that when leadership, trust and collaboration come together, the state can deliver, and that matters for democracy.”
The book illustrates these lessons through a wide range of case studies. These include the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIND), nature-based coastal protection on the North Sea islands of Föhr and Amrum, and regional examples ranging from building management in Herzogtum Lauenburg and cycling planning in Aachen to social work on migration. Together, these cases show how public institutions can innovate, coordinate across sectors, and deliver practical solutions in very different policy fields.
“Successful reform measures, even small, can have a disproportionate impact on trust in democracy, especially when they involve public administration and civil society working together,” said Helmut Anheier.
Rooted in the Hertie School’s “What Works” forum
The book grew out of the “What Works” innovation forum held at the Hertie School in summer 2025. The event focussed on the achievements of public administration and the conditions that enable reform to advance and political goals to be implemented effectively.
That same perspective shapes the book: successful public action already exists, it can be strengthened, and it can help build a stronger democratic future.
More about our experts
- Helmut K. Anheier, Senior Professor of Sociology, past President
- Andrea Römmele, Dean of Executive Education and Professor of Communication in Politics and Civil Society
- Wolfgang Seibel, Senior Fellow | Adjunct Faculty