Public Administration in the 21st Century
Public Administration has experienced a fundamental rethinking of its basic objectives, concepts, and theories during the 21st century.
This book examines transformations happening in global societies, the economy, and in politics, to trace the trajectory of public administration as an academic discipline, as well as being a focus of social science research. It presents a reassessment of governance in heterogeneous developing countries that goes beyond the traditional Weberian bureaucratic model, toward new models of organization and management informed by their legal, constitutional, economic, and political needs, aspirations, and ground realities. This is especially important in relation to the marginalized sections of society that primarily rely on citizen entitlements through public service delivery systems. The author looks at widening the range and scope of public administrative agencies with the gradual cooperation of multiple actors, such as civil society, people at large, and even the private sector, in a partnering role. The author revisits the discipline to tackle intellectual dilemmas that current governance theories and practices are confronting or will have to confront in future administrative situations in the context of developing countries of the South.
In the second edition, the volume brings into focus lessons on policy and governance learnt from the Global South in building administrative capacities in post-Covid-19 times.
An essential read on the mandates and challenges for the state regarding the rising South, this book will be indispensable to scholars and researchers of politics, especially governance and public policy, sociology, and development studies. It will also be of interest to bureaucrats, NGOs, and government officials.
Rumki Basu is currently Head, Centre for Public Policy and Governance in the Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi. Formerly, she was Head & Professor of Public Administration in Jamia Millia Islamia (2005–2021). She has published several books, articles in journals, and contributed book chapters on issues of Public Policy & Governance, International Organization, and the Political Economy of Development in India. Her latest three books, Democracy and Public Policy in the Post Covid-19 World: Choices and Outcomes (2021), Public Administration in the 21st Century (2019), and Governance in South Asia (2017) have been published by Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. She has received the Indian Council of Social Science Research Teacher Fellowship Award and the Bharat Jyoti Award by the India International Friendship Society. She was a recipient of the “Phenomenal SHE” Award Instituted by the Indian National Bar Association. The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) honoured her with the “Mary Hamilton Award” in recognition of her significant contribution to the field of Public Administration through “noteworthy international practice and substantial academic achievements”.