Government Is Us
Strategies for an Anti-Government Era
1st Edition
Published on 19. March 1998
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-0-7619-0882-1 (ISBN)
Description
In recent years, American attitudes about government have become increasingly disaffected and critical. After the 1995 bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma City, a newspaper ad sponsored by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees brought to the nation's attention the heroism of government workers' rescue efforts, with the reminder that "This is our government."
This volume, the result of collaboration by practicing administrators and academics, explores the current anti-government climate and its effect on the work and working lives of public employees and their relationships with citizens. If offers economic, political, historical, and philosophical perspectives on citizen discontent and tells stories of actual working relationships between public agencies and citizens. The collaborators maintain that while government workers cannot control the economy or the bureaucracy as a whole, they can take practical steps to improve their interactions with citizens.
While many books advise citizens how to get what they want from government, few have been written to help career civil servants work better with citizens. In a time of public negativism, Government Is Us is about building relationships, listening, making connections, and hope.
This volume, the result of collaboration by practicing administrators and academics, explores the current anti-government climate and its effect on the work and working lives of public employees and their relationships with citizens. If offers economic, political, historical, and philosophical perspectives on citizen discontent and tells stories of actual working relationships between public agencies and citizens. The collaborators maintain that while government workers cannot control the economy or the bureaucracy as a whole, they can take practical steps to improve their interactions with citizens.
While many books advise citizens how to get what they want from government, few have been written to help career civil servants work better with citizens. In a time of public negativism, Government Is Us is about building relationships, listening, making connections, and hope.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
357 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7619-0882-1 (9780761908821)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
03/1998
1st Edition
SAGE Publications Inc
€106.66
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Content
PART ONE: THE ANTI-GOVERNMENT CONTEXT
Introduction - Cheryl Simrell King and Camilla M Stivers
The Anti-Government Era
Citizenship and its Discontents - Camilla M Stivers, Cheryl Simrell King, and Renee Nank
The Political and Economic Context
Government Isn't Us - Ralph Hummel and Camilla M Stivers
The Possibility of Democratic Knowledge in Representative Government
Citizens and Administrators - Cheryl Simrell King and Camilla M Stivers
Roles and Relationships
PART TWO: STRATEGIES FOR COLLABORATION
Introduction - Cheryl Simrell King and Camilla M Stivers
Strategies for Collaboration
Overcoming Administrative Barriers to Citizen Participation - Mary M Timney
Citizens as Partners, Not Adversaries
At the Nexus of State and Civil Society - Lisa A Zanetti
The Transformative Practice of Public Administration
The EPA Seeks Its Voice and Role with Citizens - Walter W Kovalick Jr and Margaret M Kelly
Evolutionary Engagement
We Want Your Input - Dolores Foley
Dilemmas of Citizen Participation
Working with Citizens - Richard C Box and Deborah A Sagen
Breaking Down Barriers to Citizen Self-Governance
Targeted Community Initiative - Joseph E Gray and Linda W Chapin
`Putting Citizens First!'
Conclusion - Cheryl Simrell King and Camilla M Stivers
Strategies for an Anti-Government Era
Introduction - Cheryl Simrell King and Camilla M Stivers
The Anti-Government Era
Citizenship and its Discontents - Camilla M Stivers, Cheryl Simrell King, and Renee Nank
The Political and Economic Context
Government Isn't Us - Ralph Hummel and Camilla M Stivers
The Possibility of Democratic Knowledge in Representative Government
Citizens and Administrators - Cheryl Simrell King and Camilla M Stivers
Roles and Relationships
PART TWO: STRATEGIES FOR COLLABORATION
Introduction - Cheryl Simrell King and Camilla M Stivers
Strategies for Collaboration
Overcoming Administrative Barriers to Citizen Participation - Mary M Timney
Citizens as Partners, Not Adversaries
At the Nexus of State and Civil Society - Lisa A Zanetti
The Transformative Practice of Public Administration
The EPA Seeks Its Voice and Role with Citizens - Walter W Kovalick Jr and Margaret M Kelly
Evolutionary Engagement
We Want Your Input - Dolores Foley
Dilemmas of Citizen Participation
Working with Citizens - Richard C Box and Deborah A Sagen
Breaking Down Barriers to Citizen Self-Governance
Targeted Community Initiative - Joseph E Gray and Linda W Chapin
`Putting Citizens First!'
Conclusion - Cheryl Simrell King and Camilla M Stivers
Strategies for an Anti-Government Era