Does Asia have a public administration theory or philosophy for all seasons? This article argues affirmatively, contending that Asia has more than one unique theory or philosophy of public administration. Select theories and models of Asian public administration are presented to make a case concerning several countries in Asia. A conclusion is offered in relation to Western models of public administration and the moral/cultural underpinnings of public administration in Asia.
IntroductionDoes Asia have a public administration theory or philosophy for all seasons? This article as an exploratory essay argues affirmatively and, in fact, contends that Asia has more than one unique theory or philosophy of public administration. Asia is home to the oldest and largest civilizations of the world and, as such, is blessed with several unique and pioneering models and theories of public administration. Accordingly, "public administration for all seasons" (cf., Hood, 1991) is alive and diverse.Scholars have debated the origins, comparable novelties and adoption, institutionalisation, and comparative advantages of public administration for a long time Farazmand, forthcoming). They have delved into the uniqueness of public administration models across the world using modern rational models of Western administrative and organisational systems (Riggs, 1969). They have debated whether the Western models of administrative reform can converge upon the entire world of countries and shape their structural and cultural features according to Western rational and business models of managerialism such as new public management (NPM) or the earlier traditional model of bureaucracy and administrative system. The motivations have been wide-ranging, but all developments have involved practical, political, cultural and cognitive considerations (eg.