Includes bibliographical references and index.

The changing world of the 21st century : building new administrative capacities -- The discipline of public administration today -- The public and its policies -- Democracy, the state and the citizen -- Development administration, good governance to governing development today : comparative research studies -- Public administration in the 21st century : dilemmas and challenges -- Summing up.

"Public Administration has experienced a fundamental rethinking of its basic objectives, concepts and theories in the 21st century. This book examines the transformations in global societies, economy and politics to trace the trajectory of Public Administration as an academic discipline as well as a focus of social science research. It presents a reassessment of governance in heterogenous developing countries that go beyond the traditional Weberian bureaucratic model to new models of organization and management, informed by their legal, constitutional, economic and political needs, aspirations and ground realities. This is especially important in view of the marginalized sections of society that primarily rely on citizen entitlements through public service delivery systems. The author looks at the widening of the range and scope of public administrative agencies with gradual cooperation of multiple actors' such as the civil society, the people at large and even the private sector in a partnering role. She revisits the discipline to tackle intellectual dilemmas that current governance theories and practices are confronting or will have to confront in future in specific administrative situations. With key discussions on mandates and challenges for the state for the rising South, this book will be indispensable to scholars and researchers of politics, especially governance and public policy, sociology and development studies. It will also be of interest to bureaucrats, NGOs and government officials"-- Provided by publisher.