Public Administration and Society: Critical Issues in American Governance

Update and expanded, and featuring three new readings, this book provides a unique approach for instructors who want to expose their students to the social, political, and historical context of the practice of public administration. While most introductory texts cover a wide range of topics and are oriented toward details of management technique, this innovative volume focuses instead on the broader society within which public service practitioners work. The author's own text is skillfully interwoven with a collection of seminal readings and documents that illuminate the key issues of past and present for public service professionals in a democratic society. "Public Administration and Society" develops two important themes. One is an emphasis on the historical development of institutions and practices, giving students in-depth background and knowledge to effect meaningful change. The second theme involves local government and the public practitioner's role in fostering democracy, citizenship, citizenship, and community self-government.