Overview

The public sector ombudsman has become one of the most important administrative justice institutions in many countries around the world. This international and interdisciplinary Research Handbook brings together leading scholars and practitioners to discuss the state-of-the-art research on this increasingly prominent institution. Traditionally, research on the ombudsman has been conducted from a purely prescriptive or (legal) descriptive perspective, mainly focusing on the ombudsman 'in the books'. By contrast, this book illustrates how empirical research may contribute to a better understanding of the ombudsman 'in action'. It uses new empirical studies and competing theoretical explanations to critically examine important aspects of the ombudsman's work. The Research Handbook is organized in to four parts: fundamentals of the ombudsman; the evolution of the ombudsman; evaluation of the ombudsman; and the ombudsman office and profession. Featuring case studies from Europe, Canada, Asia, Africa, Latin America and Australia, chapters provide a comprehensive global perspective on the issues at hand. This unique Research Handbook will be of great value to researchers in the fields of public law, socio-legal studies and alternative dispute resolution who have an interest in the ombudsman. It will also be a valuable resource for policymakers and practitioners, particularly those working within ombudsman offices. Contributors include: V. Ayeni, C.A. Barco, A. Bedner, R. Behrens, V. Bondy, B. Bradford, A. Brenninkmeijer, S. Carl, J. Chan, N. Creutzfeldt, J. Dahlvik, M. de Langen, M. Doyle, L. Díez, C. Gill, E. Govers, M. Groves, C. Harlow, M. Hertogh, C. Hodges, B. Hubeau, R. Kirkham, M. Lezertua, J. McMillan, N. O'Brien, A. Pohn-Weidinger, L.C. Reif, M. Remác, A. Stumckhe, P. Tyndall, B. Tai, Y. van der Vlugt, E. van Gelder, R. van Zutphen, V. Wong

Full Product Details

9781786431240

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Reviews

`This is a great resource that will be of considerable value to anyone working on ombuds anywhere in the world. The editors and the authors are to be congratulated and thanked. They have produced an excellent platform for future research on ombuds.' -- Maurice Sunkin, UK Administrative Justice Institute `This ambitious work canvasses perspectives on the ombudsman role from across the globe and in a range of historical and social contexts; focusing on the public sector as the traditional heartland of the ombudsman. The Editors, Marc Hertogh and Richard Kirkham have assembled an impressive and diverse set of voices, from the EU to the Global South to Australia and beyond, and across different institutional settings the inclusion of under-scrutinized and interdisciplinary perspectives is particularly helpful. The focus on the ombudsman as a community of practice on the one hand, and as a reflection of aspirations around the rule of law, equity and fairness on the other, leads to a rich, thought-provoking, practical and engaging collection. Taking seriously the ideas, people and contexts that animate the ombudsman's role will resonate with a broad readership.' -- Lorne Sossin, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Canada `This important and useful edited collection brings together international perspectives on the current state of ombudsman research. Contributions from researchers, academics and practitioners from different jurisdictions provide valuable insights into debates on the ombudsman concept, its evolution and evaluation. It is a valuable addition to the literature on ombudsmen, and will be useful to academics, practitioners and policymakers.' -- Mary Seneviratne, Nottingham Trent University, UK `Hertogh and Kirkham set out to fill a void in ombudsman studies by collating an overview of state-of-the-art scholarship. They have succeeded. This wide-ranging and multi-jurisdictional collection of essays will push the boundaries of ombudsman research and greatly enrich it in the process.' -- Simon Halliday, University of York, UK

`This ambitious work canvasses perspectives on the Ombudsman role from across the globe and in a range of historical and social contexts; focusing on the public sector as the traditional heartland of the ombudsman. The Editors, Marc Hertogh and Richard Kirkham have assembled an impressive and diverse set of voices, from the EU to the Global South to Australia and beyond, and across different institutional settings The inclusion of under-scrutinized and interdisciplinary perspectives is particularly helpful. The focus on the Ombudsman as a community of practice on the one hand, and as a reflection of aspirations around the rule of law, equity and fairness on the other, leads to a rich, thought-provoking, practical and engaging collection. Taking seriously the ideas, people and contexts that animate the Ombuds role will resonate with a broad readership.' -- Lorne Sossin, York University, Canada `This important and useful edited collection brings together international perspectives on the current state of ombudsman research. Contributions from researchers, academics and practitioners from different jurisdictions provide valuable insights into debates on the ombudsman concept, its evolution and evaluation. It is a valuable addition to the literature on ombudsmen, and will be useful to academics, practitioners and policy makers.' -- Mary Seneviratne, Nottingham Trent University, UK `Hertogh and Kirkham set out to fill a void in ombudsman studies by collating an overview of state-of-the-art scholarship. They have succeeded. This wide-ranging and multi-jurisdictional collection of essays will push the boundaries of ombudsman research and greatly enrich it in the process.' -- Simon Halliday, University of York, UK

`This important and useful edited collection brings together international perspectives on the current state of ombudsman research. Contributions from researchers, academics and practitioners from different jurisdictions provide valuable insights into debates on the ombudsman concept, its evolution and evaluation. It is a valuable addition to the literature on ombudsmen, and will be useful to academics, practitioners and policy makers.' -- Mary Seneviratne, Nottingham Trent University, UK `Hertogh and Kirkham set out to fill a void in ombudsman studies by collating an overview of state-of-the-art scholarship. They have succeeded. This wide-ranging and multi-jurisdictional collection of essays will push the boundaries of ombudsman research and greatly enrich it in the process.' -- Simon Halliday, University of York, UK

Author Information

Edited by Marc Hertogh, Professor of Socio-Legal Studies, University of Groningen, the Netherlands and Richard Kirkham, Senior Lecturer in Public Law, University of Sheffield, UK

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