Public Administration Theory Primer

H. George Frederickson is Distinguished Professor of Public Administration at the University of Kansas.Kevin B. Smith is professor of political science at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.Christopher W. Larimer is associate professor of political science at the University of Northern Iowa.Michael J. Licari is Associate Provost for Academic Affair, Dean of Graduate College, and associate professor of political science at the University of Northern Iowa.

Praise for previous editions:"The Public Administration Theory Primer is a succinct, clearly written text that engages thematically with historical and contemporary developments within public administration. It leaves readers with a clear understanding of how and why theoretical lenses emerged, and leads to critical thinking regarding the applicability of some theoretical foundations today." – Staci M. Zavattaro, Mississippi State University "I have not found any other work that comes close to competing with this book for its purpose, which is to integrate in one volume the intellectual development of the field of public administration. I strongly encourage you to consider the primer if you are a serious student of the interconnectedness of public administration." – Alejandro Rodriguez, University of Texas, Arlington "In all honesty, I revere this book. Many graduate students refer to the text as their "bible." It is an intellectual treasure, headed by a masterful scholar." – Casey LaFrance, Western Illinois University

• Preface1. Introduction: The Possibilities of Theory 2. Theories of Political Control of Bureaucracy 3. Theories of Bureaucratic Politics 4. Public Institutional Theory 5. Theories of Public Management 6. Postmodern Theory 7. Decision Theory 8. Rational Choice Theory and Irrational Behavior 9. Theories of Governance 10. Conclusion: A Bright Future for Theory? ReferencesIndex