The Philosophy of Public Administration.
Philosophy looks in a rational way at aspects such as knowledge (epistemology), existence (metaphysics), methodology (logic and language), values (ethics) and beauty (aesthetics) of a phenomenon. Here we look at Public Administration (PA).
The first question is: What is Public Administration (epistemology)? Public Administration is the study of government that uses bureaucracy as its tool of operation. Bureaucracy is based on laws and regulations (Max Weber) and the bureaucrats follow these laws. The goal of government is to serve the public (public service based on public interest) where everybody is equal under the law. The aspect of good governance is important. These laws are decided upon by the political system that uses democracy as its guiding principle or tool of operation. PA works always in the tandem democracy-bureaucracy, where democracy takes the lead and bureaucracy follows. Changes always take place in this form.
In which form do we find bureaucracy and its properties (metaphysics)? Two main properties of bureaucracy are governing based on the law and the public interest. Bureaucratic systems are quite complex and are guided by systems dynamic laws: the general system theory (a system consist of different internal subsystems and external systems) and it is autopoietic (the system adheres mainly to its internal working). The external system here is the political system, but apart from that it doesn't answer to other external systems. Apart from the national and local government, we find bureaucracies in international organizations such as the UN and NGO's and because of their growing complexities, business organizations/forms can become bureaucratic too and object of study for PA.
In its methodological approach Public Administration is a multi- and interdisciplinary science. That means it uses knowledge from different disciplines (e.g. economy, law, sociology, psychology, technology) as its approach to solve problems. And because it is based on objective laws and regulations and the service to the public, it is more an empirical based science comparable to medicine. Theory building is different, there is a struggle whether to apply more inductive or deductive methods or verification than falsification. It is a young study and it is wresting with its paradigms.
What is the beauty of PA (aesthetics) and what is it good for (ethics)? In the public discussion, government is often seen in a pejorative way (negative): e.g. waste of resources, big government, slow decision making, corruption, spying on it own citizens. And at the positive side, except from the aspect of good governance, government is also considered good (Paul du Gay: In Praise of Bureaucracy, 2002). According to Adam Smith government has to promote happiness of the public as its sole use and ends (good government). Governmental organizations comply to the public will through the principles of democracy used by the political system. And there are certain duties only government has the power to execute. These beautiful and positive aspects of government objects of study of PA.
I mainly use the complexity of the bureaucratic system to make analysis and tend to look things interdisciplinary from a helicopter view.
Two books on the philosophy of PA:
Edoardo Engaro (2017). Philosophy and Public Administration. Massachusetts: Elger Publishing.
JSH Gildenhuys (2004). Philosophy of Public Administration. Stellenbosch: Sun Press.
In addition to the indicated aspects of public administration, it is also necessary to touch on the anthropological and phenomenological aspect. It is necessary to consider the problem of the relationship between the administration and the individual. At the same time, administration should be considered taking into account subjective factors.
In addition to the indicated aspects of public administration, it is also necessary to touch on the anthropological and phenomenological aspect. It is necessary to consider the problem of the relationship between the administration and the individual. At the same time, administration should be considered taking into account subjective factors.
Dear Rudi Darson
Thank you for bringing up such an important question. I strongly recommend the following article:
Jos C. N. Raadschelders. The Future of the Study of Public Administration: Embedding Research Object and Methodology in Epistemology and Ontology. Public Administration Review. Vol. 71, No. 6 (November / December 2011), pp. 916-924.
Best regards to you.
Here is review paper of Simon Okoth about the state of the art of Public Administration in Western Academia and some lessons for the Gulf States
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0d92/7476462e39852c76909be632dcaa08d69a56.pdf
He wrote it in 2015. Does it represent the state of the art in Public Administration? Which important topics has he left out?
Rajaa A. Mahmoud , thanks for the article of Raadschelders. Indeed a must read.
Regards, Rudi.
Rajaa A. Mahmoud
Also some books here about the essence of Public Administration:
Eric, E. Otenyo and Nancy E. Lind, ed. (2006). Comparative Public Administration: The essential readings. Emerald Publishing Limited.
Stephen Osborne. (2009). The new Public Governance. Taylor and Francis Ltd.
Robert Agronoff. (2007). Managing within Networks. Georgetown University Press.
Jos C.N. Raadschelders (2013). Public Administration. Oxford University Press.
B. Guy Peters (2012). The Sage Handbook of Public Administration. Sage Publication Ltd.
D. Ravindra Prasad et. al .(2010). Administrative Thinkers. Sterling Publishers Pvt Ltd.
Albert C. Hyde and Jay Shafritz (2015). Classics of Public Administration. Cengage Learning, Inc.
https://www.researchgate.net/project/Philosophy-in-Public-Administration
Dear Rudi Darson and colleagues,
Very good systematisation of the philosophical aspects! I consider important to study the PA from a result-oriented perspective for the individuals, businesses and societies. Effectiveness is crucial but beyond it there are other more intangible long run areas which are underestimated such as well-being and happiness as you mentioned. Maybe insisting on ‘good governance’ could be helpful to shorten the path to them.
Best to you,
Juliana
PA theory is derived from statistical analysis, the effort to account for both politics from administration and the Weberian effort to apply science to administration. The art of PA in Western democratic societies remains largely the same as it has been over the last 100 years, balancing efficiency and effectiveness on one hand with representation and democracy on the other.
Its like administration of public through adequate policies in a way to trouble them less. Rule of law not rule by law. So there is continuous scope of improvement in future too. Good Public administration policy will keep on continuously improving rule of law.
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