The idea of purposeful societal governance has not only influenced dictators and ideologues. It still inspires some actors in modern democracy today. However, its utopian content and unsatisfactory experiences have made it the subject of a sociological and political science controversy. Does the notion of shaping societal processes still fit into the age of globalization in economics and politics? The book first examines the points of contention in the academic debate and the empirical foundations of governance pessimism. It explains how governance effects are intended and possibly realized in an intention-appropriate manner by looking at the coordination mechanisms of market, community, and organization, as well as the influence of negotiations and power communication. However, the successes of ambitious governance efforts prove to be limited.