Evolution of Public Administration
Key Statement: Public administration as a practice is as old as civilization, but as an independent discipline, it lacks a long history.
Phases of Evolution
Six generalized phases (potential 10-mark exam question):
| Phase | Time Period | Key Features | Important Thinkers/Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Politics-Administration Dichotomy | Pre-1927 | Separation of politics and administration as systems and subjects; Evolution from political science. | Woodrow Wilson ("The Study of Administration"), Goodnow ("Politics and Administration") |
| Golden Age of Principles | 1927-1937 | Development of classical organizational principles; numerous influential texts. | Henri Fayol (General and Industrial Management), Mary Parker Follett (Creative Experience), Luther Gulick & Lyndall Urwick (Papers on the Science of Administration), Mooney & Reiley (Onward Industry), L.D. White (Introduction to the Study of Public Administration) |
| Era of Challenge | 1938-1947 | Challenges to classical theories; critiques of principles as proverbs. | Chester Barnard (The Functions of the Executive), Herbert Simon (critique of classical principles), Robert Dahl (Science of Public Administration: Three Problems) |
| Crisis of Identity | 1948-1970 | Public administration's status questioned; near-reabsorption into political science. | John Gaus ("Trends in the Theory of Public Administration") |
| Era of New Public Administration (NPA) | 1971-1990 | Emphasis on interdisciplinary studies; rejection of the politics-administration dichotomy; decentralization; public participation. | |
| Era of New Public Management (NPM) | 1991-Present | Focus on efficiency, economy, effectiveness; downsizing of bureaucracy; privatization; facilitating, promoting, and distributing, instead of regulating. |
Classical Thinkers' Principles (Golden Age): Fayol (14 principles), Mooney & Reiley (4 principles), Gulick (10 principles), Urwick (8 principles). Key concepts within these include: Hierarchy, Unity of Command, Span of Control.
Nicholas Henry's Phases
Alternative six phases proposed by Nicholas Henry in "Public Administration and Public Affairs":
- Politics-Administration Dichotomy
- Managerial Approach
- Behavioral Approach
- Systems Approach
- Public Choice Approach
- Era of Good Governance (1991-present)
Evolution in India
- Early Diploma Programs: Madras (1937), Allahabad (1941), Lucknow (1943), Nagpur (1949).
- First Separate Department: Nagpur University (1950), established by M.P. Sharma.
- Other Departments: Lucknow (1959), Hyderabad, Punjab (1965), Rajasthan (1961).
- Key Figures:
- M.P. Sharma: Father of Public Administration in India.
- Mukut Behari Mathur: Father of Public Administration in Rajasthan.
- Major Institutions: Lucknow University, Hyderabad University, Punjab University (Chandigarh), Rajasthan University (Jaipur).
- Institutes: Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA, 1954) - publishes the Indian Journal of Public Administration (IJPA). Indian School of Public Administration (ISPA, 1955) - later discontinued.
- UPSC: Public Administration added as an optional subject (1986-87).