Critical Social Theory in Public AdministrationThe essential premise of critical social theory is that contemporary society is neither democratic nor free, but that modern global capitalism creates a citizenry satiated with consumer goods, unaware of alternative ways of living. In the public sector, critical theory suggests that governing systems are influenced, if not controlled, by the wealthy and powerful, leaving public professionals to decide whether to serve those interests or the interests of a broader public. This book provides a framework for the application of critical social theory in public administration. Its goal is to encourage awareness among public administration scholars and practitioners of social conditions that tend to shape and constrain scholarship, practice, teaching, and social change. At a time when concern for public interest and a civil society have largely been displaced by the goals of economic efficiency and the "New Public Management," Critical Social Theory in Public Administration presents a viable alternative that incorporates the latest views of postmodern thinking with the central elements of critical social theory. |
Contents
3 | |
1 Critical Imagination in a Postmodern Environment | 14 |
2 Contradiction Utopia and Public Administration | 32 |
Critical History | 49 |
4 Critical Theory and the Paradox of Discourse | 69 |
5 Pragmatic Discourse and Administrative Legitimacy | 89 |
6 Private Lives and Antiadministration | 109 |
7 Critical Practice and the Problem of Finding a Public | 126 |
147 | |
157 | |
About the Author | 165 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
action admin Agger alternatives American analysis Anti-Federalists antiadministration argued awareness become Camilla Stivers capitalist citizen involvement classical liberal conceptual concern contemporary context contradiction create critical social theory critical theory model critique culture decision democracy democratic dialectical discourse process discourse settings discourse theory discussion dominant Douglas Kellner elected elite emancipation Enlightenment environment example framework Frankfurt school future global governmental groups growth machine Habermas Herbert Marcuse human idea identify individual institutional interests John Dewey Jürgen Habermas Kellner knowledge liberal-capitalist Marcuse Marcuse's Mary Parker Follett McSwite ment metanarrative Molotch nation neighborhood nomic normative one-dimensional organizations participate perspective political and economic possible postmodern potential practice practitioners pragmatism private lives problem public administration theory public discourse public professionals question reason relationship Richard Rorty role Rorty self-determination situation social change society status quo Stivers structures thought tion tive understanding values vision