Wednesday 22 April 2020

Opportunities for the Future: Globalization, Democracy, and the New Public Service

Opportunities for the Future: Globalization, Democracy, and the New Public Service
Chapter 11 emphasizes the fundamental importance of the public sector in society and the role of public servants, providing insight into recent trends in the public service and the related challenges that have implications for the future of the field. Two major worldwide trends—globalization and increasing democratization—are examined in the context of recent economic challenges. This includes discussions about the impact of globalization on public administrators, the role of citizens in the governance process, and the critical role that ethics play in the public service.
The authors begin with an overview of the changes in support for the public service in the last few decades, noting that while public administrators seemed to be under attack fairly consistently beginning in the 1960s, in recent years the environment has become more positive, particularly at the state and local levels. This overview is tied to a discussion about trends in the public service set in the context of the changing economic conditions over the last several decades, detailing the challenges these changes have created. Next, the impact of globalization is addressed, including the implications for public administrators at all levels and suggestions for the kinds of analyses needed to better understand these trends.
The discussion turns next to the role of citizens in governance. This includes an overview of trends worldwide in this area, along with a discussion about the challenges public administrators face in attempting to deal with this shift toward more direct forms of citizen participation. The authors offer examples of current efforts in the United States and discuss what will be needed in order for such efforts to be successful in creating an environment that fosters effective and responsible citizenship. Of particular note is the observation that public administrators need to understand these processes not only from their own point of view but from that of the citizen as well. As part of this discussion, the authors outline a model for the New Public Service, which offers seven principles aimed at helping administrators build public organizations marked by integrity and responsiveness that serve and empower citizens. The New Public Service takes to task the contention that government should be run like a business, arguing instead that the way to restore public confidence in the public service is to involve citizens in public decision making. 140 Chapter 11: Opportunities for the Future: Globalization, Democracy, and the New Public Service Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
This section also includes a review of seven actions outlined by the National League of Cities aimed at promoting shared responsibility and citizen engagement. The chapter moves to a discussion about the role of ethics in public service, arguing that the most important purpose of public service is working with others to foster “good” governance across politics, administration, and economics, with public action founded on a proper ethical basis. The tenets of “good” governance are explored, and the chapter concludes with a call for careful analysis and effective action by scholars and practitioners in public administration in an effort to understand and meet the challenges that public service will face.

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