Public Administration in the 21st Century

Public Administration has experienced a fundamental rethinking of its basic objectives, concepts, and theories during the 21st century.

This book examines transformations happening in global societies, the economy, and in politics, to trace the trajectory of public administration as an academic discipline, as well as being a focus of social science research. It presents a reassessment of governance in heterogeneous developing countries that goes beyond the traditional Weberian bureaucratic model, toward new models of organization and management informed by their legal, constitutional, economic, and political needs, aspirations, and ground realities. This is especially important in relation to the marginalized sections of society that primarily rely on citizen entitlements through public service delivery systems. The author looks at widening the range and scope of public administrative agencies with the gradual cooperation of multiple actors, such as civil society, people at large, and even the private sector, in a partnering role. The author revisits the discipline to tackle intellectual dilemmas that current governance theories and practices are confronting or will have to confront in future administrative situations in the context of developing countries of the South.

In the second edition, the volume brings into focus lessons on policy and governance learnt from the Global South in building administrative capacities in post-Covid-19 times.

An essential read on the mandates and challenges for the state regarding the rising South, this book will be indispensable to scholars and researchers of politics, especially governance and public policy, sociology, and development studies. It will also be of interest to bureaucrats, NGOs, and government officials.