Those who oppose privatization are often confronted with the objection that they present no alternative. And yet there are countless cases of successful public services around the world. This talk explores theoretical concepts of what does (and does not) constitute a 'public' service, what makes them 'successful', and why critical research on this topic matters for scholars, practitioners and activists. The presentation draws on extensive empirical research in Asia, Africa and Latin America, examining public service initiatives in the water, health and electricity sectors in over 40 countries.