Specific contradictions operating at the level of the individual civil servant are discussed by Goodsell in this chapter:

Goodsell, C. T. (1989). Balancing competing values. In: J. Perry (red.): Handbook of public administration. New York: Jossey-Bass.

The other contradictions are  public welfare-personal  welfare; private accumulation rather than public distribution; hierarchy than flat hierarchy; file rather than work; signature rather than service.

The public administration needs to recognize and avoid the interference of politicians in the implementation of exclusively technical decisions. Caligula, ancient Roman emperor, said that even his horse could rule whether the technicians well prepare decisions to be taken.

I point out two contradictions that exist in Brazil from an element: commissioned positions (which are freely appointed and not necessarily occupied only by civil servants) .

Here, two elements: the first, how those positions serve as political bargaining when mayors, governors and the President are elected. In this way, political support is returned by the statement of someone linked to the support to hold the commissioned position .

The second element is the organization of the team, since certain strategic functions can be occupied freely and not by qualified civil servants.

The contradiction is civil  servants serving state or political masters. Constitutionally, they are expected to serve the state, in reality they serve politician. Another contradiction is working for collective good or private good.

See Vincent Ostrom's classic, The Crisis in American Public Administration.

contradictions exist between collaborative governance and administrative accountability, between value claims and value creation in participatory decision making, between decentralization and inclusiveness

Thomas  Chumbley Decentralization ensures the transfer of power and authority from the centre to the periphery but it does not ensure that all the stakeholders at the peripheral level are genuinely involved in the decision-making process owing to difference in the sphere of influence, wealth and bargaining power in the local power structure which structurally exclude some stakeholders from the local power matrix. 

There are many contradictions in Public  Administration.  It include the conflict between the Specialists and Generalists, the Politicians and Career civil servants,circumvention of rules, good governance and affirmative action and corruption and ethics in administration.

There are far too many contradictions in Public Administration. The conflict between Generalist and specialist definitely takes the cake.

Policies made by civil servants which they think are for the welfare of the people!

Civil Servants  becoming the masters of the same people whom they are expected to serve.

Funds for the people not reaching/insufficient for them. Majority of money going in establishment and sundry expenses. 

contradiction between  hierarchy and meritocracy in Public service, achieving efficiency and effectiveness in the public service, economic efficiency and social welfare, anonymity and whistle blowing,  professionalism and neutrality .. Will give more later

New Happy Year!

Dear Arvydas Guogis

There are big contradictions between the public administration and the political control over it on, the one hand, and the dangers of the nexus of these two most obnoxious classes, on the other.  

Then the biggest dichotomy lies between the functional grandiose of public administrators, on the one extreme, and the civilizational and humanitarian goals, on the other.

It is the least probable that the super-ego of the administrators submits itself to the national spirit.

With regards

Israr

Principal-agent problems

Thanks  Mr Thomas, The controversy over Obama' health policy is a  clear example of the contradiction between achieving economic efficiency and social welfare which constitute an important part of the social contract between the government and the citizenry. True or false?

 Fragmentation, the diversity of approaches to the study of public administration and the particular complexity of the administrative phenomenon generated many problems and contradictions not only epistemological. The falsifiable principles  as political-administrative separation or the presumption of service activity first two factors are contradictory order. Today remains of Robert Dahl diagnosis made in 1947 on the need to resolve the normative values and predictability of administrative behavior. The new paradigms, especially the Trust in Goverment have to resolve these issues prior carater if intended as serious alternatives.

An important contradiction is also between desires and budget, and then how the necessities are ranked.

In India setting up of the Public Sector undertakings with the intention of achieving 'Economic' and Social' goals simultaneously!

Economic goals - earning money for the government for development and financing future plans.

Social goals - setting up industries leading to new townships developed by the public sectors, providing employment and giving subsidies.  

The intention of managing by objectives and the number of checks provided by the formal rules is a contradiction particularly frequent in Italy.

The intention of managing by objectives and the number of checks provided by the formal rules is a contradiction particularly frequent in Italy.

You will find in my paper on Impediment to Social Sector Developments in Pakistan available with Research Gate

Between intraorganizational, interorganizational and citizen relationship interest.

 The contradiction between professional values and organisational values on one hand, and that of  the societal values on the other hand. 

Dear Arvydas,

Without doubt, I believe that the most significant contradiction is the public-administration dichotomy. A very good book to assist you in this contradiction is

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272741422_ANALYSING_THE_POLITICSADMINISTRATION_DIVIDE_Patterns_History_Law_and_Public_Policy?enrichId=rgreq-328b6d2e-bd0b-4cbc-93a2-ea692ac235b3&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzI3Mjc0MTQyMjtBUzoyMDA0MDk0NDk3OTk2ODNAMTQyNDc5Mjc0NDk0MQ%3D%3D&el=1_x_3

Book ANALYSING THE POLITICS-ADMINISTRATION DIVIDE Patterns, Histo...

Dear Arvydas,

I would also like to also recommend some useful insights regarding contradictions - politics/administration dichotomy:

Vigoda-Gadot Eran (2007). Citizens’ Perceptions of Politics and Ethics in Public Administration: A Five-Year National Study of Their Relationship to Satisfaction with Services, Trust in Governance, and Voice Orientations. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. 17 (1): 285-305.

Webb Yackee Jason, Susan Webb Yackee (2010). Administrative Procedures and Bureaucratic Performance: Is Federal Rule-making ‘‘Ossified’’?. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. 20 (2): 261–282.

Yang Kaifeng, Sanjay K. Pandey (2009). “How Do Perceived Political Environment and Administrative Reform Affect Employee Commitment?” in Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Oxford University Press, Vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 335-360.

Yesilkagit, Kutsal, Sandra van Thiel (2008). Political Influence and Bureaucratic Autonomy. Public Organizations Review. Springer, Nr. 8: 137-153.

There are contradictions between flexibility and bureaucracy, between politics and administration, between responsiveness and efficiency, between quick action and following procedures, etc. 

 Dear all,

Thank You all for defining contradictions and pointing to the necessary references.

Between know-how and not-know. And - of moral, ethical and values pursuing nature.

Between advantages and dis-advantages communities to access public services. Conduct and misconduct of public servants, corruption and honesty behaviour, nepotism and impartiality, etc.

Accountability- Callousness

Impartiality - Partiality

issue of expertise, and generalise

The contradictions between centralization and decentralization, the centre-periphery relations are not sufficiently addressed.

Rules- Violation of rules,

Welfare- corruption

Public orientation- power orientation.