Teaching and Research in Public Administration in Post-globalized World: Challenges and Prospects

The study of public administration as an academic discipline has undergone a sea-change the world over. This is particularly true in the aftermath of the New Public Management movement when the service delivery mechanisms and public services became the key issues for teaching and research. Some of the enduring successes of NPM have spread from its origins to the developing world too, apparently bringing some improvements to the state apparatus and public service systems in those countries. In the post-globalized world, public administration has transcended many traditional barriers in the form of governance, good governance, electronic governance and electronic government. New areas of study and research have opened up, taking the discipline to new borders. The key concerns today are the residual legitimacy of the governments in the perception of citizens, crony capitalism, corruption and unethical practices in the public sector. The demand for services has gone up like never before. In the age of globalisation and localisation, governments increasingly have to make pro-active responses to positive economic opportunities as well as to react defensively to negative economic pressures keeping in view the enhanced aspirations of citizens. In this backdrop, this paper will try to evaluate the status of public administration teaching and research in the developing world with emphasis on the Indian experience.