Currently it is easy to find very good books or articles dedicated to "sociology of organization". Astonishingly, it is more complicated to find publications (books or articles) with respect to "sociology of public administration". It seems that these two scientific fields are separated. It seems strange to me.
Hello David,
You could search for scientists that have used the work of Luhmann Luhmann to explore a sociological perspective on public adminstration or governance. This is a growing body of literature that links up with the work on organization.
Thank you for your answer to my somewhat large question. I will have a look to Luhmann's work indeed. But do you have a special article or book in mind?
You could try Luhmann - Political theory in the welfare state or one of Teubner's articles that also present a social systems theory perspective on public administration.
e.g.
Teubner G. (1989) How the Law Thinks: Towards a Constructivist Epistemology of Law. Law & Society Review 23: 727-758.
Teubner G. (1997) The King’s many bodies: The self-deconstruction of Law’s hierarchy. Law & Society Review 31: 763-788.
In relation to planning the article by Van Assche and Verschraegen might be interesting to read:
http://plt.sagepub.com/content/7/3/263.short
You must read The New Science of Organizations: A Reconceptualization of the Wealth of Nations, by Alberto Guerreiro Ramos. Beware: it will leave you longing for more at the end. This book is a touchstone; but, we are so unfortunate that Prof. Ramos died shortly after writing this book.
In addition, Richard Box has done some work on Critical Theory and PA. I also like the New Public Administration theorists, such as: Dwight Waldo, Chester Newland, H. George Fredrickson, and the Denhardts (Janet and Robert).
Maybe you scroll through these journals: Administration and Society (http://aas.sagepub.com/) or Administrative Science Quarterly (http://asq.sagepub.com/). Raoul's hint is interessting, too. Unfortunately most of Luhmann's work hasn't been translated, yet. If you are readwise in German i recommend: Legitimation durch Verfahren (http://www.suhrkamp.de/buecher/legitimation_durch_verfahren-niklas_luhmann_28043.html). If you are interested in the change of public administrations from a governance point of view, you could try Roddy Rhodes (http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Hq5_Co-9S5EC&oi=fnd&pg=PA208&dq=%22manner,+method+or+system+by+which+a+particular+society%22+%22of+British+government+but+the+term+is+not+in+the+index+nor+defined+in+the+text:+it+is%22+&ots=pnyTzJSOr0&sig=bCSjNYxCxwZFSvNeBlf21oOoUJ4).
If you are not into systems theory, some work is currently done on public administration, that references to the works on bureaucracy of Max Weber for example the work of Renate Mayntz (http://www.mpifg.de/people/rm/publikation_de.asp).
Dear Ronald. Thank you very much for your advise and for the complete answer to my question. I will for sure have a look to these articles and books. And, as I live in a multicultural country I will be able to read also in German.
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