This course introduces to the candidates the evolution and the future direction of public administration theory and practice. In fact, the focus of public administration theory is shifting from mechanical efficiency of traditional public administration to social efficiency of New Public Management and, recently, to public values and public interests of New Public Governance or New Public Service. Interdisciplinary and integrative approach becomes more and more important to public administration and public policy research.

CILO-1: Identify the important points, strengths and limitations in the relations between theory and practice pertaining to specific theories or approaches; and match them to the materials in the current literature. CILO-2: Differentiate in principle and content the nature of public administration from social work and social administration, social welfare studies, sociology, communication studies, international trade, and economics. CILO-3: Identify the strengths and limitations pertaining to issues concerned with the theoretical constructs and empirical investigations of administrative reforms in developed countries since the 18th century in their in-class expositions. CILO-4: Discuss theoretical and empirical issues concerned with the strengths and weaknesses of the argument about a “paradigm shift” in public administration.