Social Construction of Public Administration, The

Cover

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Title Page, Copyright, Dedication

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CONTENTS

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pp. vii-ix

FOREWORD

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pp. xi-xix

The first priority in this introduction is to ensure that readers of this book are fully aware of the credentials of its author, Jong S. Jun. ...

PREFACE

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pp. xxi-xxiv

Countries in the East and West are in the midst of a great transformation: the democratization of the governing process. The Western countries, the United States in particular, are working to renew democratic ideals and practices by strengthening the process of deliberative democracy. ...

CHAPTER 1: Introduction

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pp. 1-20

We live in an “age of paradox,” in which our good intentions to progress and our efforts to improve the quality of life produce unintended consequences and often contradictory results (Handy, 1994). This paradox results when policy makers put forth a strong argument for pursuing one policy and neglecting another, less pressing, one, such...

CHAPTER 2: The Changing Context of Public Administration

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pp. 21-42

The primary objective of this chapter is to briefly explore the successes and the failures of public administration in the twentieth century and their lessons for the new century. The conditions of political, socioeconomic, and cultural contexts have greatly contributed to the growth of public institutions and the scope of public policies. ...

CHAPTER 3: The Social Constructionist Approach

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pp. 43-72

In a public administration that places much emphasis on a positivistic, empirical, and bureaucratic culture, only that which provides practical results and serves management interests is taken seriously. As practicality becomes an important measure, theoretical approaches and ideas are judged in terms of their applicability to...

CHAPTER 4: Public Administration as Social Design

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pp. 73-99

Traditionally, public administration has been considered to be either a science or an art, and these metaphors have substantially affected theory and practice in this field. When it is seen as a science, public administration uses the scientific method and quantitative information; when it is seen as an art, it focuses on functional coordination, leadership...

CHAPTER 5: Social Design in Practice

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pp. 101-121

Developments in public administration that broaden approaches to problem solving, take greater account of relevant variables in policy making, and challenge public administrators and citizens in positive ways offer many possibilities for strengthening both theory and practice in this field. ...

CHAPTER 6: Understanding Action, Praxis, and Change

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pp. 123-145

Changing an organization is one of the most difficult endeavors because not only does change require resources, but, most important, it requires that people share knowledge, learn, and make a commitment to their plans. ...

CHAPTER 7: The Self in Social Construction

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pp. 147-176

The social construction of public administration must include a clear consideration of the nature of the individual within social and cultural contexts. From a positivist (functionalist) perspective, an organization is seen as an assembly of autonomous individuals working together foreconomic gain. ...

CHAPTER 8: The Social Construction of Ethical Responsibility

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pp. 177-206

Many administrative responsibilities with which the public administrator is charged are fundamentally ethical in context. In public administration, however, there is an increasing tendency to assume that the “reality” of the administrative context renders ethical and moral considerations old-fashioned, even ludicrous. ...

CHAPTER 9: Civil Society, Governance, and Its Potential

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pp. 207-233

Public administration exists in the context of the social world: it is not an isolated entity in society. Government develops policies and administration to meet the challenges of society, but its activities are also greatly influenced by global politics and issues. ...

CHAPTER 10: Concluding Thoughts

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pp. 235-258

The past century has seen great changes in the development of the governing capability of industrializing and postindustrial countries, such as strong government, management capability, professionalization of public service, scientific and rational ways of designing policies and activities, and coping with diverse political and social conditions. ...

NOTES

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pp. 259-266

REFERENCES

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pp. 267-291

INDEX [Includes Back Cover]

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pp. 293-303