Public Administration Theories Instrumental and Value Rationalities

by Dong, Lisheng

• ISBN13: 9781137536433
• ISBN10: 1137536438
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2015-07-16
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

This book analyzes eight key public administration theories from the perspective of instrumental and value rationalities. In the instrumental rationality camp are the theories of Traditional Public Administration, Privatization, New Public Management, and Holistic Governance. The theories of New Public Administration, Democratic Administration, New Public Service, and Public Value Management fall into the camp of value rationality.
The eight theories are analyzed in light of the five elements of core value, assumption about human nature, methodology, role of government, and disciplinary positioning. The author also traces the historical trajectories of the two schools of thought, which have alternated in dominance in the evolution of public administration theory studies, presenting pendulum movements.
The author's research focuses mainly on development stages, schools of theories, research paradigms, and research routes. The book presents a new perspective of the two rationalities, leaving readers with a clear understanding of the complex evolution of more than a century of public administration theory.

Author Biography

Lisheng DONG is Marie Curie Research Professor at the University of Glasgow, UK. He is the 2012 co-recipient of the Pierre de Celles Award of the International Association of Schools and Institutes of Administration. He is the editor of Urban Mobilizations and the New Media in Contemporary China and China and the European Union.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
PART I: THEORETIC BASIS
2. Instrumental and Value Rationalities of Public Administration
PART II: THE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTRUMENTAL RATIONALITY-ORIENTED PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION THEORIES
3. Traditional Public Administration Theory: Emergence of Instrumental Rationality
4. Privatization Theory: Inheritance of Instrumental Rationality
5. New Public Management: Upsurge of Instrumental Rationality
6. Holistic Governance: Integration of Value and Instrumental Rationalities
PART III: THE DEVELOPMENT OF VALUE RATIONALITY-ORIENTED PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION THEORIES
7. New Public Administration: Awakening of Value Rationality
8. Democratic Administration Theory: Inheritance of Value Rationality
9. New Public Service: Upsurge of Value Rationality
10. Public Value Management: Integration of Value and Instrumental Rationalities
PART IV: CONCLUSION
11. A General Assessment and Cross Analyses of Instrumental and Value Rationalities-Oriented Schools of Public Administration Theories
Bibliography