Synopses & Reviews
Hardy Wickwar takes a global look at public administration from the perspective of one whose lifetime has spanned most continents and most of a century. His volume investigates what governments do to, for, and with people; how governments treat their lands and the resources on, in, around, and above them; and how governments relate to their citizens through the exercise of power, law, and political judgement. Relating public administration to a country's social structure, law, and history, the volume expounds a European model and then analyzes variants in relation to differences in geography and historical setting. Wickwar makes a sharp distinction between continental countries where people accept the state as supremely important and island countries that do not. Taking as a given the fact that governments render services, Wickwar examines the varying ways in which they use their power to serve their people: what governments do themselves and what they leave for other social institutions to accomplish. Because of its clear view of the relationship between the structure of a particular society's thought and of its institutions, without assuming that an American administrative model ought to be emulated worldwide, Power and Service serves as an excellent guidebook for those who operate in various administrative environments internationally.
The volume is divided into three major sections: World Picture, Country Model, and Western Variance. Part I begins by elaborating on the idea and ideals of public administration and how they have emerged, establishing bases for comparing public administration in time, space, and phases of modernity. The eight chapters that compose section II scrutinize public order, education and health services, income protection services, and more using a European model as a point of reference. Western Variance assesses both western and world variants, considering variants in both insular and continental settings. The final chapter, Horizon 2001, probes the emerging world of global public administration discourse. By all standards this volume will be essential reading in courses in comparative administration, politics, criminal justice, social service, health administration, international relations, and European history.
Review
This volume, by moving beyond painfully abstract theoretical models and dry country studies to sweeping historical summaries and broad topical categories that both inform and excite, makes an important contribution to the field. Particularly attractive are three conceptual distinctions made by Wickwar: continental versus insular administration, power administration in contrast to service management; and global as distinct from homeland administration. In discussing these and other ideas, Wickwar demonstrates deep classical learning and solid knowledge of important details. His humanism leads him to make connections with the ideas of leading philosophers, and frequent etymological digressions manifest his urge to instruct....He writes with a flowing, forceful, even elegant style that is also overly compact and succinct. One yearns for further discussion and development of provocative points.Choice
Synopsis
Viewing public administration as a product of a particular country's thought, social structure, law, and history, Wickwar develops a European model and then analyzes variants in relation to it. This is an excellent guidebook for those who operate in various administrative environments internationally.
Synopsis
Wickwar takes a global look at public administration investigating what governments do to, for, and with people; how governments treat their lands and resources; and how governments relate to their citizens through the exercise of power, law, and political judgement. Viewing public administration as a product of a particular country's thought, social structure, law, and history, Wickwar develops a European model and then analyzes variants in relation to it, making a sharp distinction between continental and "island" countries. This is an excellent guidebook for those who operate in various administrative environments internationally.
Synopsis
r those who operate in various administrative environments internationally.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [205]-207) and index.
About the Author
HARDY WICKWAR is Professor Emeritus of Government and International Studies at the University of South Carolina.
Table of Contents
Preface
World Picture
Public Administration in Comparative Perspective
Comparison in Time
Comparison in Phases of Modernity
Comparison Over Space
Country Model
Central/Local Power
The Rule of Law
Agents of Central Authority
Public Order
Public and Private Power
Educational Services
Income Protection Services
Health Services
Western Variants
German Variants of Continental Administration
Insular Power Management
Insular Service Management
World Variants
Comparing Patterns of Administration
Diffusion of Administrative Models
Interactional Development
Horizon 2001
Selective Bibliography
Index