Refounding Public Administration

By Charles T. Goodsell, Robert N. Bacher, Gary L. Wamsley

In general, public administration has been accorded only brief periods of acceptance. As a result, public administrators have not perceived their authority as legitimate. In 1982, in response to "bureaucrat bashing" by both the Carter and Reagan administrations (and two prior administrations), a group of leading academics in public administration convened to analyze the present and future development of public administration. The results of this meeting, the Blacksburg Conference, were published in a controversial and widely disseminated paper, which became known as the Blacksburg Manifesto. The authors called for redefining the terms of the American political dialogue so as to foster the acceptance of public administrators as constitutional officers with a legitimate role in governing America. Refounding Public Administration extends the dialogue of the Blacksburg Manifesto (a paper analyzing the present and future development of public administration), redefines the legitimate role of the public administrator, and creates a normative theory of development of American public administration. Offering a unique balance, this volume includes an appendix containing both positive and negative reactions from many prominent figures in the field. "This landmark volume′s integrated theoretical perspective, strong conceptual foundation, and distinguished authors make this essential reading for academics, advanced students, and professionals in public administration. "This book extends the dialogue of the Blacksburg Manifesto, redefines the legitimate role of the public administrator, and creates a normative theory of development of American public administration. Offering unique balance, this book includes an appendix containing both positive and negative reactions from many prominent figures in the field." --Recent Publications on Governmental Problems "What adjective should be used in describing this book? Unusual? Significant? Important? I believe that all of these might be appropriate. In fact, for anyone seriously interested in public administration, it is worthy of attention." --Public Administration Review

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803937237
• ISBN13: 9780803937239
• Release Date: June 1990
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.3" x 6.3"