Public Administration Mains 2023 : Solved Paper-1 (Question: 6)
Public Administration Mains 2023 : Solved Paper Question Paper-1 (Question-6)
SECTION-B
6. (a) "The studies in Comparative Public Administration (CPA) got momentum in 1980's and 1990's with a new objective and orientation than its previous counterparts.” Critically examine.20
The statement that the studies in CPA got momentum in the 1980s and 1990s with a new objective and orientation than its previous counterparts can be examined by looking at the historical development and evolution of CPA. Comparative Public Administration (CPA) is a subfield of public administration that studies the administrative systems and processes of different countries, cultures, and regions, by using a comparative perspective. CPA can be divided into four phases or generations, each with its own characteristics, challenges, and contributions.
• The first phase of CPA emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, in the context of the Cold War and the decolonization process. The main contributions of this phase were the identification and analysis of the administrative problems and challenges faced by the developing countries, and the provision of practical guidance and assistance for their administrative reforms and capacity building.
• The second phase of CPA emerged in the 1970s and early 1980s, in the context of the global economic crisis and the social and political unrest. The main contributions of this phase were the recognition and appreciation of the diversity and complexity of public administration across the world, and the awareness and advocacy of the issues and values of democracy, participation, and human rights in public administration.
• The third phase of CPA emerged in the late 1980s and 1990s, in the context of the end of the Cold War and the rise of globalization and transnationalism. The main orientation of this phase was empirical and explanatory, based on the concepts of globalization, governance, and public management. The main methods of this phase were statistical and quantitative analysis, based on the criteria of performance and accountability. The main contributions of this phase were the generation and dissemination of empirical data and information on public administration, and the development and testing of theories and hypotheses on public administration.
• The fourth phase of CPA emerged in the 2000s and 2010s, in the context of the emergence of new and transnational issues and actors, and the increasing interdependence and interaction among countries and regions. The main contributions of this phase are the creation and promotion of a global and holistic perspective on public administration, and the enhancement and improvement of the quality and responsiveness of public services.
Therefore, the statement that the studies in CPA got momentum in the 1980s and 1990s with a new objective and orientation than its previous counterparts can be partly true and partly false. It is true that the third phase of CPA represented a shift from the normative and critical orientation of the first and second phases, to a more empirical and explanatory orientation, and that it gained more attention and recognition in the academic and policy circles. However, it is also false that the third phase of CPA was completely new or different from the previous phases, as it also built on and incorporated the knowledge and insights of the first and second phases, and as it also faced some limitations and criticisms from the fourth phase of CPA.