Omar Bennett
Public administration refers to the management of public programs and the translation of politics into reality for citizens. It involves the study of government decision-making and the analysis of policies and their inputs. However, the concept of publicness in public administration is complex and ambiguous. There has been a dominant view that markets are superior to governments and the public sphere has diminished in esteem and significance. This has led to a lack of clarity about what the public sphere represents. The discipline of public administration is facing revolutionary changes due to global events and emerging technologies, further complicating the understanding of its public nature. Various approaches to defining publicness exist, including the concepts of 'public goods' and 'public interest,' which are derived from modern political theory. The study of public administration emphasizes social and cultural drivers of government and aims to maximize efficiency and improve services.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Concept of public | The concept of public has diminished in public administration, with markets being seen as superior to governments and public to private. |
| Publicness of public administration | There are two conceptual versions: the first derives from "public goods", and the second from the "public interest". |
| Ontological descriptions of publicness | There are two contravening descriptions: the individualist and the organic. |
| Individualist description | In this description, individuals are seen as autonomous beings, with their characteristics distinct from the community. |
| Organic description | The organic whole of a community ontologically precedes the individuals within it. The characteristics of individuals are derived from the community, and the focus is on the group as a whole. |
| New Public Management | A theory proposed by David Osborne and Ted Gaebler advocating the use of private sector models and values to improve the public sector. |
| Centralization of power | The New Public Governance model includes centralization of power and an increased role for partisan-political staff. |
| Public budgeting | The allocation of scarce resources among unlimited demands. |
| Public finance | The study of government revenue and expenditure to achieve desirable effects. |
| Human resource management | An unbiased, ethical, and values-based approach to public service staffing. |
| Civil service | The body of public administrators, providing professional advice and assistance to those responsible for state policy. |
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What You'll Learn
The loss of the concept of 'public'
The concept of 'publicness' in public administration has been a subject of debate, with a dominant view emerging that favours markets over governments and public over private. This shift has led to a loss of clarity about the meaning and significance of the public sphere, impacting both reasoning and teaching. This loss of the 'public' concept has resulted in a diminished understanding of the public interest and public values.
Public administration, as an academic discipline, studies how public policies are formulated and implemented. It involves translating politics into tangible outcomes for citizens and examining the decision-making processes within governments. However, the understanding of 'publicness' in public administration has been inconsistent, with modern political theory offering two contrasting ontological descriptions. The first conceptual version interprets 'publicness' through 'public goods', while the second version focuses on the 'public interest'. This inconsistent framework poses challenges for defining and teaching the subject.
The evolution of public administration theory has seen the emergence of New Public Management (NPM), which adapts private sector models, values, and ideas to enhance the public sector's efficiency and service orientation. This approach, popularized during the Clinton Administration, reflects a shift in perspective where markets are prioritized over governments. As a result, the concept of the public sphere has become less distinct, impacting its consideration in educational contexts.
To address this loss of the 'public' concept, there is a need to refocus on related concepts such as public interest and public values. By stimulating reflection on the relevance of publicness in public administration and the importance of the public sphere, educators can emphasize the significance of these themes in the discipline and their practical implications. This renewed attention can help restore the concept of the public and its role in public administration, ensuring a clearer understanding of the public sphere's purpose and its relationship with markets and governments.
In conclusion, the loss of the concept of the public in public administration has led to a diminished understanding of the public sphere and its significance. By revisiting related concepts and encouraging critical reflection, educators can play a pivotal role in reinstating the importance of the public and its relevance in the field of public administration.
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The public sphere's diminishing esteem and significance
The turbulent environment, including global events like the pandemic, has pushed public administration to its limits, necessitating revolutionary changes. The emergence of new technologies and a hybrid world has resulted in a distinct model of public administration that emphasizes speed, ethics, and fusion. However, the fundamental challenge of defining the "public" in public administration remains unresolved.
The discipline of public administration has struggled to establish a clear-cut understanding of its publicness. There are various approaches to distinguishing public from private organizations, but they often lead to an inconsistent conceptual framework. For instance, one conceptual version of publicness is derived from "public goods," while another stems from the "public interest." These ontological descriptions of publicness are contravening and highlight the complexity of defining public administration's scope and nature.
The teaching of public administration plays a crucial role in addressing the issue of the public sphere's diminishing esteem and significance. Instructors can utilize components that encourage students to reflect on the relevance of the publicness of public administration and related concepts like public interest and public values. By integrating these concepts into their coursework, students can develop a broader perspective on the relationship between citizens and government and the societal context within which public administration operates.
Renewed attention to the concept of publicness and its related aspects is essential to reinvigorate the public sphere and restore its esteem and significance. This includes examining the role of government, the creation and implementation of public policy, and the impact of societal values on the structure of government. By embracing this theme in education and practice, we can better understand the importance of the public sphere and its relevance in a democratic society.
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The publicness of 'public interest'
The concept of "publicness" in public administration has been a subject of debate, with a dominant view emerging that markets and the private sector are superior to governments and the public sphere. This shift has led to a loss of clarity about what the public sphere represents and its significance in reasoning and teaching. To address this, Arthur Ringeling's work in 2015 emphasizes the need to refocus on the concept of publicness and related ideas such as public interest and public values.
The publicness of public interest is a crucial aspect of understanding the role and purpose of public administration. Public administration, as an academic discipline, involves studying how public policies are created and implemented, translating politics into tangible outcomes for citizens. This field of study explores the decision-making processes within governments, the analysis of existing policies, and the considerations necessary for developing alternative policies.
There are two main conceptual versions of the publicness of public administration. The first interpretation derives its understanding of publicness from "public goods." This perspective focuses on the tangible outcomes and services provided by public administration, ensuring that public policies result in goods and services that benefit the public.
The second conceptual version of publicness centers around the "public interest." This approach emphasizes the importance of representing and serving the interests of the public at large. It involves engaging in ethical decision-making, considering the social and cultural drivers of government actions, and ensuring that public policies align with the values and needs of the community.
In practice, public administration involves managing public programs and allocating scarce resources among unlimited demands. It encompasses various aspects such as public finance, which deals with government revenue and expenditure, and human resource management, which ensures unbiased and values-based public service staffing. Additionally, public administration theories and models, such as New Public Management and New Public Governance, have emerged to improve efficiency and service delivery within the public sector.
In summary, the publicness of public interest in public administration refers to the commitment to serving the interests and needs of the public. It involves understanding the relevance of the public sphere, reflecting on the values and priorities of the community, and translating these into effective policies and tangible outcomes. The publicness of public interest is a fundamental aspect of public administration, guiding decision-making processes and shaping the relationship between governments and citizens.
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Public administration's hybrid approach
The concept of 'publicness' in public administration has been a subject of debate, with varying interpretations and a lack of clarity. This discussion revolves around the question "How public is public administration?" posed by Arthur Ringeling in 2015. The inquiry highlights a dominant perspective where markets and private sectors are perceived as superior to governments and the public sphere. This shift has led to a decline in the esteem and understanding of the public sphere, prompting a re-examination of the concept of 'publicness' in public administration.
Public administration theory has struggled to establish a clear definition of publicness due to its multifaceted nature. Two key conceptual versions of publicness emerge: the first derived from 'public goods', and the second from the 'public interest'. These versions are rooted in conflicting ontological descriptions developed in modern political theory. Acknowledging both descriptions is essential for a comprehensive understanding of public administration.
In practice, public administration has witnessed the adoption of hybrid approaches, particularly in response to the turbulent environment of the early 2020s, marked by complex problems and the emergence of unpredictable events. This new hybrid world has driven public administration to evolve, leveraging new technologies and redefining characteristics such as speed, ethics, and fusion. The concept of 'new public management' emerged in the late 1980s, advocating for the application of private sector models, organizational ideas, and values to enhance the efficiency and service orientation of the public sector. This approach was embraced during the Clinton Administration and spread across bureaucracies in the US and the UK.
Another model, termed 'New Public Governance', involves the centralization of power and increased influence of partisan-political staff, assuming a promiscuously partisan public service. Additionally, public administration encompasses ethical decision-making, policy analysis, and program evaluation. It involves public budgeting, finance, and human resource management, ensuring unbiased and values-based practices.
In conclusion, the hybrid approach to public administration combines various models, adapting private sector strategies to improve efficiency while navigating complex societal challenges. The ongoing evolution of public administration reflects a dynamic field that strives to balance efficiency, ethics, and the public interest in a rapidly changing world.
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The ethical question of public policy
One perspective on the ethical question of public policy is the tension between markets and government. In recent years, there has been a dominant view that markets are superior to governments and public to private, leading to a loss of esteem for the public sphere. This shift has made it more challenging to define the public sphere and its significance in reasoning and teaching. As a result, there have been calls for renewed attention to concepts like public interest and public values, stimulating reflection on the relevance of publicness in public administration and the role of the public sphere in shaping policy.
Public administration theory has struggled to define the publicness of public administration clearly. There are two main conceptual versions of publicness: the first derives its understanding from "public goods," while the second focuses on the "public interest." These versions are based on opposing ontological descriptions developed in modern political theory, and both must be acknowledged to understand public administration fully.
The approach to teaching public administration and the related question of "Why government?" are essential in addressing the ethical question of public policy. Instructors can use various components to encourage students to reflect on the underlying questions and the relevance of the public sphere. This includes examining the societal context, such as the relationship between citizens and the government, and understanding how the structure of government reflects societal values.
The turbulent environment, including the pandemic, has pushed public administration to its limits, leading to revolutionary changes. A hybrid approach to public administration has emerged, incorporating new technologies and redefining characteristics like speed, ethics, and fusion. These developments contribute to ongoing debates about the role of government and the ethical considerations in public policy decision-making.
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Frequently asked questions
Public administration refers to "the management of public programs", or the "translation of politics into the reality that citizens see every day".
Key themes in the study of public administration include public policy, political life, ethics, and the role of government.
Examples of public administration in practice include public budgeting, public finance, and human resource management in the public service.
The field of public administration has evolved with the emergence of new theories such as New Public Management and New Public Governance, which advocate for the use of private sector-style models and centralized power structures, respectively.
Public administration faces challenges such as the loss of the concept of the public, the complexity of modern governance, and the impact of unpredictable events such as the pandemic.
