The Future of Public Administration around the World

Public administration is an incredibly diverse and rapidly globalizing field, including a broad range of actors with varying types and areas of expertise. This edited volume from the Minnowbrook III Conference has something important, and often invaluable, for all who engage it. Written in a readily accessible style and with a cutting-edge focus on both academic and professional themes, it is a must-read for those who want to stay or arrive at the forefront of public administration, as scholars or practitioners. -- Carolyn Heinrich, director, La Follette School of Public Affairs and professor of public affairs and economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison Minnowbrook I (1968), II (1988), and III (2008) are watershed events in the intellectual development of public administration. This book is an indispensable and rich encapsulation of the thrust of Minnowbrook III and a guide to the ideas and forces that will shape public administration's next decade. No serious scholar of public administration should be without it. -- Hon S. Chan, City University of Hong Kong This edited volume of Minnowbrook III's best contributions provides readers a roadmap through the issues that frame the global field of public administration and management. The editors have compiled a comprehensive yet readable and accessible contribution to the public administration and management canon. -- Trevor Brown, associate director of academic affairs and research, John Glenn School of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University We all complain about the 'bureaucracy', and our faith in government seems to erode even as the challenges multiply. The experts contributing to this book-all public administration scholars-know about the problems in all their complexity. Both practitioners and those promoting reforms will benefit from the insights and the different perspectives of the authors. -- Paul A. Volcker A kaleidoscope of views of the future of public administration; it demonstrates a rich diversity of positions and viewpoints on what public administration will be or should be. -- Kenneth J. Meier, Texas A&M University and Cardiff University

A once-in-a-generation event held every twenty years, the Minnowbrook conference brings together the top scholars in public administration and public management to focus on the state of the field and its future. This book examines the ideas of previous Minnowbrook conferences, which are reflective of the 1960s and 1980s.A once-in-a-generation event held every twenty years, the Minnowbrook conference brings together the top scholars in public administration and public management to reflect on the state of the field and its future. This unique volume brings together a group of distinguished authors - both seasoned and new - for a rare critical examination of the field of public administration yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The book begins by examining the ideas of previous Minnowbrook conferences, such as relevance and change, which are reflective of the 1960s and 1980s. It then moves beyond old Minnowbrook concepts to focus on public administration challenges of the future: globalism, twenty-first century collaborative governance, the role of information technology in governance, deliberative democracy and public participation, the organization of the future, and teaching the next generation of leaders. The book ends by coming full circle to examine the current challenge of remaining relevant. There is no other book like this - nor is there ever likely to be another - in print. Simply put, the ideas, concepts, and spirit of Minnowbrook are one-of-a-kind. This book captures the soul of public administration past, present, and future, and is a must-read for anyone serious about the theory and practice of public administration.