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CHAPTER 11

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

 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Understanding the importance of public service to society

2. Becoming familiar with opportunities and challenges facing the field

3. Understanding the impact of globalization on public administration

4. Learning about the increasing importance of involving citizens in the governance process

5. Understanding the critical role of ethics in public administration

 SUMMARY OVERVIEW

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.

 CHAPTER OUTLINE

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SERVICE

II. TRENDS IN PUBLIC SERVICE

 Public Administration in History: MAIN CONCLUSIONS OF THE VOLCKER COMMISSION

A. Economic Changes and Redefining Government

III. GLOBALIZATION

IV. THE ROLE OF CITIZENS IN THE GOVERNANCE PROCESS

V. ETHICS AND THE IMPERATIVES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

VI. A FINAL NOTE

 KEY TERMS

Civic engagement The active involvement of citizens in helping to shape the policies and

programs that affect their lives.

Ethics Process by which we clarify right and wrong and act on what we take to be right.

Globalization The rise in the interconnection and interdependence of economic and cultural

activity on an international scale.

Good governance A system of governance that is accountable, creates trust, promotes broadly

shared values, is based on effective leadership, constructs rules and standards for orderly

conduct and progressive social behavior, and is based on new and modified political and

administrative forms.

Governance The process of administering processes and systems, leading and managing, and

making decisions on behalf of a group, organization, nation-state, or other entity.

Governance is what government does.

Chapter 11: Opportunities for the Future: Globalization, Democracy, and the New Public Service 141

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Moral leadership Making governing decisions based on fairness and ethical considerations

rather than personal, political, or financial concerns.

New Public Service A focus on building public institutions marked by integrity and

responsiveness that serve and empower citizens by integrating citizen discourse and the

public interest into the decision-making processes.

Subprime mortgage A type of mortgage made available to borrowers with lower credit ratings.

It carries a higher interest rate because the borrower is considered to have a higher risk of

defaulting on the loan.

 WEB LINKS

The following are links to international perspectives on governance and public

administration:

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development—OECD: (www.oecd.org).

United Nations: (www.un.org/esa).

The following are links to information about local issues on a global scale:

International City/County Management Association—ICMA: (www.icma.org/).

International City Government Resource Centre: (www.geocities.com/Paris/9925).