UNIT TWO

MODULE ONE UNIT TWO: CHANGING NATURE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Changing Nature of Public Administration

• NIT: Comparative Public Administration

• CONTEN: Development Administration

• New Public Administration

COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

• 1962 - Fred Riggs:

  • Emphasized the need to study politico-administrative institutions in their social settings.

  • Post-World War II: Focus on third world countries across social sciences.

  • Scholars analyzed administrative development and socio-economic change in cross-cultural contexts.

Key Points

• Definition: Comparative Public Administration involves cross-cultural and cross-national studies of public administration.

• Importance of Understanding: Necessary to assess the impact of comparative public administration.

• Fred Riggs Trends:

  • Three significant trends in the comparative study of public administration.

Three Trends Identified by Fred Riggs

1. From Normative to Empirical Orientation:

   • Shift from what should happen to what actually occurs in different administrative systems.

   • Focuses on analyzing and comparing actual practices and outcomes through evidence and data.

2. From Ideographic to Nomothetic Orientation:

   • Ideographic: Study focused on specific nations or studies (individualistic).

   • Nomothetic: Universal studies that cover broader phenomena across multiple contexts.

   • Comparative public administration shifts from individualistic to universal studies.

3. From Non-Ecological to Ecological Focus:

   • Ecological focus examines interactions between administrative systems and their environments (political, social, and economic factors).

   • Highlights that the administrative system’s operation is impacted by its surrounding environment.

LEVELS OF COMPARATIVE ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES

• Macro Studies:

  • Focus on comparing entire administrative systems (e.g., India vs. the United States).

• Middle-Range Studies:

  • Concentrate on specific components within the administrative system (e.g., local governments).

• Micro Studies:

  • Analyze detailed aspects within an administrative system (e.g., recruitment or training practices).

ELEMENTS OF COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (Ramesh Arora)

1. Cross-Cultural Comparison:

   • Study administrative systems in varied cultural contexts, comparing structures and practices.

2. Developmental Dimensions:

   • Links to modernization and development in a post-World War II context.

3. Ecological Perspective:

   • Examines interactions between administrative systems and their environments.

4. Goal Orientation:

   • Focuses on achieving specific objectives that align with societal needs and values.

IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

• Enhances understanding of public administration factors.

• Analyses the impact of environmental influences on administration.

• Offers academic utility for theorists and practitioners.

DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

• Post-1945 concept emergence.

• Key reasons for its rise:

  1. Emergence of Newly Independent Countries:

     • Newly independent nations faced the challenge of creating effective political and administrative systems.

  2. Development Schemes:

     • Focus on addressing poverty, infrastructure, education, and healthcare through effective administration.

  3. Establishment of Comparative Administration Group (1960):

     • Promoted research on public administration, aiming for administrative model development in line with local needs.

MEANING AND DEFINITIONS OF DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

• Weidner: "An action-oriented and goal-oriented administrative system."

• Emphasizes processes and structures that manage social and economic development.

• Focuses on implementing policies and programs to improve citizens' quality of life.

HALLMARKS OF DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

• Change-oriented

• Goal and result-oriented

• Citizen participation

• Commitment to development

• Integrated and holistic approach

DIFFERENCES: TRADITIONAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION VS. DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

NEW PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (NPA)

• Emerged in the 1960s as a solution to Traditional Public Administration’s limitations.

• NPA emphasizes:

  • Social equity

  • Responsiveness

  • Relevance in governance.