7th Edition

The Politics of Bureaucracy An Introduction to Comparative Public Administration

By B. Guy Peters, B. Guy Peters Copyright 2018
    396 Pages 5 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    396 Pages 5 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Written by B. Guy Peters, a leading authority in the field, this comprehensive exploration of the political and policy making roles of public bureaucracies is now available in a fully revised seventh edition, offering extensive, well-documented comparative analysis of the effects of politics on bureaucracy.

    Updates to this edition include:

    • All new coverage of public administration in Latin America and Africa, with special attention paid to the impact of New Public Management and other ideas for reform;
    • An examination of the European Union and its effects on public policy and public administration in member countries, as well as an exploration of the EU as a particular type of bureaucracy;
    • A renewed emphasis on coordination and the role of central agencies;
    • A thorough assessment of 'internationalization' of bureaucracies and concerns with the role of international pressures on domestic governments and organizations in the public sector;
    • Coverage of the wide-ranging impacts of the 2008 economic slowdown on public bureaucracies and public policies, and the varied success of governmental responses to the crisis.

    Drawing on evidence from a wide variety of political systems, The Politics of Bureaucracy, Seventh Edition, continues to be essential reading for all students of government, policy analysis, politics, and international relations.

    1. Public Administration and Governing

    2. Political Culture and Public Administration

    3. Recruiting Public Personnel

    4. Problems of Administrative Structure

    5. The Politics of Bureaucracy

    6. The Bureaucracy and Political Institutions

    7. The Politics of the Budgetary Process

    8. The Politics of Administrative Accountability

    9. Administrative Reform

    10. The Politics of Public Management

    Biography

    B. Guy Peters is Maurice Falk Professor of American Government at the University of Pittsburgh, USA.

    "The seventh edition of this popular textbook provides readers with a comprehensive and updated discussion of challenges and recent developments in the field of public bureaucracy. Modern public administration is placed in its political and intellectual context and analyzed in a skillful manner with insights into the challenges and opportunities of big contemporary government."

    Per Lægreid, University of Bergen, Norway

    "At a time when political parties and politicians in democratic nations seem tone-deaf to concerns citizens have with government, Peter's classic text brings welcome insights into the inner workings of public institutions and the gargantuan changes that have occurred over the last forty years. His thoughtful discourse on the nature of public service, especially with regard to public bureaucracies, reminds us to root our understandings of the behavior of public bureaucrats within the cultural and political systems that bind them to both their political leaders and their citizenry. The comparative approach to providing such insight demonstrates his central thesis: the collective action problems that have helped to increase the size, role, and reach of governments around the world aren't going anywhere. Peters helps us to see where we've been so that we will better navigate the road ahead."

    Jill L. Tao, Incheon National University, South Korea

    "A comprehensively up-dated edition with impressive coverage of public administration, topic-wise and globally. A wealth of comparative insights and analysis. Essential reading for all who seek to understand the structures and dynamics of the state, government and governance in diverse contexts." 

    Ian Thynne, Australian National University, Australia