Archon Fung
Encyclopedia
Archon Fung is the Ford Foundation Professor of Democracy and Citizenship at Harvard University's
Kennedy School of Government
and co-founder of the Transparency Policy Project. Fung served as an Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the Kennedy School from July 1999-June 2004, then as an Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Kennedy School from July 2004-October 2007, and finally as a Professor of Public Policy from October 2007-March 2009 before being named as the Ford Foundation Chair of Democracy and Citizenship in March 2009.
Fung received his undergraduate and graduate education at MIT
, where he gained two Bachelor of Science degrees in Philosophy and Physics in 1990 and a Ph.D. in Political Science in 1999.
Fung has authored five books, three edited collections, and over fifty articles appearing in journals including American Political Science Review, Public Administration Review, Political Theory, Journal of Political Philosophy, Politics and Society, Governance, Journal of Policy and Management, Environmental Management, American Behavioral Scientist, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, and Boston Review.
Fung’s current research focuses broadly on the realms of transparency
in public and private governance
as well as participatory democracy
with a focus on deliberative forms of governance
. Current projects examine democratic reform initiatives in electoral reform, urban planning, public services, ecosystem management, and transnational governance. His most recent research looks at the role of technology within the area of transparency and governance.
In September 2009, Fung launched Participedia, a website developed with Mark Warren of the University of British Columbia
, aimed at strengthening democracy with its user-generated library of examples and methods of participatory governance, public deliberation, and collaborative public action.
Fung’s research was unprecedented for the in-depth approach it took to understanding local governance as both an examination of a specific case but also as a model for understanding urban participatory democracy. Empowered Participation is exemplary of Fung’s work: innovative and uniting rigorous empirical analysis with an equally strong foundation in theory.
Fung’s work has continued in this trajectory of sitting at the cutting edge of policy and theory with his second book Full Disclosure: The Perils and Promise of Transparency, co-authored with Mary Graham and David Weil in 2007. Full Disclosure examines transparency as a regulatory tool for protecting the public interest through the lens of eighteen major policies, including those designed to improve car safety and restaurant hygiene. This work introduces the notion of targeted transparency - where the disclosure of information serves to bridge a gap in knowledge that otherwise contributes to public risk or service failures. The theoretical underpinning of targeted transparency is the “Transparency Action Cycle" whereby disclosers provide information to the public in a format that responds to users' will and capacity to process and use that information at the point of decision-making.
The themes of enabling citizens to be more efficacious within their political system is evident in the other books, projects, and articles Fung has either written or contributed to. These include a 2000 book with Bradley Karkkainen and Charles Sabel
entitled Beyond Backyard Environmentalism and Can We Put an End to Sweatshops, a 2001 book written with Dara O’Rourke and Charles Sabel
. Additionally, Fung has published numerous articles on these topics ranging from more theoretical pieces such as a 2005 piece in Political Theory entitled “Deliberation Before the Revolution: Toward an Ethics of Deliberative Democracy in an Unjust World” to a 2007 piece appearing in the American Political Science Review
entitled “Democratic Theory and Political Science: A Pragmatic Method of Constructive Engagement” which bridges theory and practice.
Fung is also deeply engaged in current politics, having published a recent piece for the American Prospect
in May 2010, entitled a “Tea Party for Obama.” Additionally, Fung serves on the national advisory board of AmericaSpeaks
and is a consultant for various organizations including the Open Society Institute
and the World Bank
.
As an indicator of Fung’s personal and professional commitment to the ideals of transparency he has published a “Conflict Statement” on his personal website, which outlines his engagement with outside organizations. “First, as someone who seeks to understand the worlds of democratic reform and public policy, it is important to see things from the perspective of practitioners which is very different from the perspective of scholars. Working closely with practitioners is one way — the best way I know of — to gain that understanding.”
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
and co-founder of the Transparency Policy Project. Fung served as an Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the Kennedy School from July 1999-June 2004, then as an Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Kennedy School from July 2004-October 2007, and finally as a Professor of Public Policy from October 2007-March 2009 before being named as the Ford Foundation Chair of Democracy and Citizenship in March 2009.
Fung received his undergraduate and graduate education at MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, where he gained two Bachelor of Science degrees in Philosophy and Physics in 1990 and a Ph.D. in Political Science in 1999.
Fung has authored five books, three edited collections, and over fifty articles appearing in journals including American Political Science Review, Public Administration Review, Political Theory, Journal of Political Philosophy, Politics and Society, Governance, Journal of Policy and Management, Environmental Management, American Behavioral Scientist, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, and Boston Review.
Fung’s current research focuses broadly on the realms of transparency
Transparency
Transparency may refer to:*Transparency and translucency, the physical property of allowing the transmission of light through a materialLiteral uses:...
in public and private governance
Governance
Governance is the act of governing. It relates to decisions that define expectations, grant power, or verify performance. It consists of either a separate process or part of management or leadership processes...
as well as participatory democracy
Participatory democracy
Participatory Democracy, also known as Deliberative Democracy, Direct Democracy and Real Democracy , is a process where political decisions are made directly by regular people...
with a focus on deliberative forms of governance
Deliberative democracy
Deliberative democracy is a form of democracy in which public deliberation is central to legitimate lawmaking. It adopts elements of both consensus decision-making and majority rule. Deliberative democracy differs from traditional democratic theory in that authentic deliberation, not mere...
. Current projects examine democratic reform initiatives in electoral reform, urban planning, public services, ecosystem management, and transnational governance. His most recent research looks at the role of technology within the area of transparency and governance.
In September 2009, Fung launched Participedia, a website developed with Mark Warren of the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
, aimed at strengthening democracy with its user-generated library of examples and methods of participatory governance, public deliberation, and collaborative public action.
Major Works
Fung’s dissertation looked at the impact of the participatory involvement of Chicago’s residents, police officers, teachers, and community groups to reform education. This research was published in Fung’s first book Empowered Participation: Reinventing Urban Democracy in 2004.Fung’s research was unprecedented for the in-depth approach it took to understanding local governance as both an examination of a specific case but also as a model for understanding urban participatory democracy. Empowered Participation is exemplary of Fung’s work: innovative and uniting rigorous empirical analysis with an equally strong foundation in theory.
Fung’s work has continued in this trajectory of sitting at the cutting edge of policy and theory with his second book Full Disclosure: The Perils and Promise of Transparency, co-authored with Mary Graham and David Weil in 2007. Full Disclosure examines transparency as a regulatory tool for protecting the public interest through the lens of eighteen major policies, including those designed to improve car safety and restaurant hygiene. This work introduces the notion of targeted transparency - where the disclosure of information serves to bridge a gap in knowledge that otherwise contributes to public risk or service failures. The theoretical underpinning of targeted transparency is the “Transparency Action Cycle" whereby disclosers provide information to the public in a format that responds to users' will and capacity to process and use that information at the point of decision-making.
The themes of enabling citizens to be more efficacious within their political system is evident in the other books, projects, and articles Fung has either written or contributed to. These include a 2000 book with Bradley Karkkainen and Charles Sabel
Charles Sabel
Charles Frederick Sabel is an American academic and professor of Law and Social Science at the Columbia Law School. His research centers on public innovations, European Union governance, labor standards, economic development, and ultra-robust networks.Sabel attended Harvard University and...
entitled Beyond Backyard Environmentalism and Can We Put an End to Sweatshops, a 2001 book written with Dara O’Rourke and Charles Sabel
Charles Sabel
Charles Frederick Sabel is an American academic and professor of Law and Social Science at the Columbia Law School. His research centers on public innovations, European Union governance, labor standards, economic development, and ultra-robust networks.Sabel attended Harvard University and...
. Additionally, Fung has published numerous articles on these topics ranging from more theoretical pieces such as a 2005 piece in Political Theory entitled “Deliberation Before the Revolution: Toward an Ethics of Deliberative Democracy in an Unjust World” to a 2007 piece appearing in the American Political Science Review
American Political Science Review
The American Political Science Review is the flagship publication of the American Political Science Association and is the most prestigious journal in political science according to the ISI 2004 Journal Citation Report...
entitled “Democratic Theory and Political Science: A Pragmatic Method of Constructive Engagement” which bridges theory and practice.
Fung is also deeply engaged in current politics, having published a recent piece for the American Prospect
The American Prospect
The American Prospect is a monthly American political magazine dedicated to American liberalism. Based in Washington, DC, The American Prospect is a journal "of liberal ideas, committed to a just society, an enriched democracy, and effective liberal politics" which focuses on United States politics...
in May 2010, entitled a “Tea Party for Obama.” Additionally, Fung serves on the national advisory board of AmericaSpeaks
AmericaSpeaks
AmericaSpeaks is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization whose mission is to "engage citizens in the public decisions that impact their lives." AmericaSpeaks' work is focused on trying to create opportunities for citizens to impact decisions and to encourage public officials to make...
and is a consultant for various organizations including the Open Society Institute
Open Society Institute
The Open Society Institute , renamed in 2011 to Open Society Foundations, is a private operating and grantmaking foundation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform...
and the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
.
As an indicator of Fung’s personal and professional commitment to the ideals of transparency he has published a “Conflict Statement” on his personal website, which outlines his engagement with outside organizations. “First, as someone who seeks to understand the worlds of democratic reform and public policy, it is important to see things from the perspective of practitioners which is very different from the perspective of scholars. Working closely with practitioners is one way — the best way I know of — to gain that understanding.”
Awards and Honors
- 2006 Senior Scholar, Edmond J. Safra Foundation, Center for Ethics, Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
- 1995 National Science FoundationNational Science FoundationThe National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
Training Fellowship in Democratization
External links
- Website of Archon Fung
- Website of the Transparency Policy Project
- Participedia. Official website.