'Why do governance systems fail to see, think, and learn? In this bold and thought-provoking book, Van Assche and Gruezmacher uncover the hidden forces shaping decision-making-what is ignored, dismissed, or simply unseen. Through a masterful blend of governance theory, psychology, and critical analysis, they reveal how blind spots, selective inattention, and institutional inertia create governance failures and sustainability crises. Packed with fresh insights and real-world relevance, this book is a must-read for policymakers, scholars, and changemakers eager to rethink governance for a more adaptive, responsive, and sustainable future.'

Phillip Allmendinger, University of London and Former Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Cambridge, UK

This original and highly insightful volume on the blind spots, limits, but also possibilities of governance sheds a new light on pathways of change, in times when they are in urgent need of re-examination . A must read.

Poul F. Kjaer, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark

"This interdisciplinary new book by Van Assche and Gruezmacher turns conventional governance thinking on its head. Drawing on insights from critical management studies, organization studies, systems theory, governance theory, critical policy studies, resilience thinking, and psychoanalysis, the authors argue that, in the face of today's grand challenges, governance thinking must focus on its 'epistemic negatives'-those aspects that necessarily remain unobserved, unthought, and unlearned. This amounts to nothing less than a call for a scientific revolution in governance studies. A must-read for scholars and practitioners of public policy and administration, planning, and sustainable development."

David Seidl, University of Zurich, Switzerland