Projects, Power, and Politics: A Conversation with Bent Flyvbjerg

Too often politicians try to fumble decisions through, playing havoc with money and trust. Democracy is not about pleasing the electors, but about politicians pushing for the changes needed tomorrow, taking responsibility and the necessary measures to see them through. As contemporary planning increasingly takes part through individual but gigantic projects rather than through a comprehensive, coordinated effort, this is even more important to understand. Fortunately, there are lessons to learn from experience collected through decades of research. Bent Flyvbjerg explains his views on the need for strong strategic governance, an open and honest democracy, and how he sees the role and responsibility of the critical researcher.