Christopher Hood wins 2021 John Gaus Award

Emeritus Professor of Government Christopher Hood has received the 2021 John Gaus Award from the American Political Science Association for a lifetime of exemplary scholarship in political science and public administration.

Christopher studied at the universities of York and Glasgow and taught public administration on three continents, before becoming Professor of Government at All Souls College.

His research has been focused on aspects of executive government – its organisation, capacities and limits, and some of the ideas and doctrines that surround the running and organisation of government.

The award committee stated that Christopher ‘…has made substantive contributions to the fields of public administration and political science for five decades’ and that ‘…there are entire fields of knowledge that would look substantively different without his work.’

It also noted that ‘….a persistent characteristic of Hood’s work is a willingness to take on big themes central to how government works’ and that his work ‘…is written to be accessible and engaging’

Christopher said: “I can't quite believe it – I never thought I'd get the Gaus award.

“I’m very grateful to all the people who have helped me over the years, including Bill Mackenzie, Andrew Dunsire and Mary Douglas, all of whom I wish were alive today to celebrate with me.”

Christopher has written some 28 books to date, including (with Ruth Dixon) A Government that Worked Better and Cost Less? (2015).  

He was a member of the research team which coined the term 'quango' in the 1970s and the first to use the term in print. He also coined the terms 'bureaumetrics' and 'new public management' in the 1980s.

He is currently working on his latest book and leading a research project based at Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government which evaluates the UK's public expenditure control system from the 1990s to the 2010s.