Public Administration as a Dynamic Balance and Integrative Science Across Politics, Management, and Law: Rosenbloom’s Framework and Chinese Experiences

Abstract

An identity crisis has plagued public administration for over a century. The core of the crisis is how to address the relationship between public administration and the three major related disciplines—political science, management, and law; especially the first two—and whether public administration is an independent scientific subject. By studying the discipline identity problem of public administration using the three-perspective framework of politics, management, and law developed by Rosenbloom, this article argues that the developmental history of Chinese public administration is also a history of the relationship between public administration and the three major related disciplines. Furthermore, after comparing United States and Chinese public administration, the article suggests that we can define public administration as a dynamic balance and integrative science across the three major related disciplines by placing greater emphasis on administration, public management, and the laws and rules of administration and public management. This new definition suggests that seeking dynamic balance and synthesis is the nature of public administration, differentiates public administration from other disciplines, and stresses its status as an independent discipline. Thus, we do not need to be frightened of this feature of public administration or reframe it but must instead admit that this unique feature represents a specific advantage of public administration. Furthermore, this view provides a new way to dismiss the nightmare-like identity crisis faced by public administration.

State of the field: research on public policy and public administration in China

“…This way, this Handbook can advance PA research in China. It also contributes to mainstream PA research since knowledge production in this field of inquiry is inherently comparative (Kim et al 2019, 754-755;also Fritzen 2010;Jreisat 2005Jreisat , 2011Zhang 2002, 2009;Yang 2018). Wu, He, and Sun (2013, 262) claimed that a discussion on the development and future direction of PA research in mainland China "could prove to be of global significance to the development of the field.…”

“…Citing Harris (2002), Kim et al (2019, 754) asserted that Kang Youwei introduced the concept and theories of PA from Japan to China in the late 19th century. But Yang (2018) claimed that "modern PA in China is first mentioned by Liang Qichao" in the late Qing dynasty and the early Republic of China (1912-1949 ce). Liu and Li (2013, 1) offered a different view that PA was first imported from the West in the 1930s.…”

“…There is not much to say about PA teaching and research in China between 1952 and 1982, as it was removed from the university curriculum during this period of time (Chow, Xu, and Wen 2019;Kim et al 2019;Li, Han, and Kim 2018;Mingus and Jing 2016;Xue 2019;Yu, Rubin, and Wu 2012;Yang 2018;Zhang et al 2018;Zhao 2008). In 1982, two events occurred.…”

“…There has been a rapid expansion of degree programs in PA in China since then. Yang (2018) reported that Wuhan University and Zhengzhou University began to recruit undergraduate students in PA in 1986. Next, the Chinese Association of PA was founded in 1988.…”

“…The next year, three universities were given the authority to grant PhD degrees of PA" (Liu and Li 2013, 8-9). In 2000, Tsinghua University set up China's first public policy school (Xue 2019;Yang 2018;Chow, Xu, and Wen 2019;Zhao 2008) and reported that the undergraduate programs of PA at Chinese universities increased from two in 1986 to 876 (among these, 517 programs are called "public affairs," and 369 programs are called "public administration") in 2017, the academic master programs increased from one in 1988 to more than 200 in 2017, the professional master programs (MPA) increased from 24 in 2001 to 226 in 2017, and the PhD programs increased from two in 1990 to 47 in 2017. Kim et al (2019, 754) reported that the first MPA program in the United States was offered by the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University in 1924, and there were 197 MPA related programs accredited in the United States by 2018.…”