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unit-3-public-administration-and-other-social-sciences

Unit-3 Public Administration And Other Social Sciences

In this unit, we shall examine the place of Public Administration among Social Sciences and its relations with other Social Sciences.

llustrate the relationship between Political Science and Public Administration




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Learning Pundits Content Team

Written on Jun 26, 2019 5:30:52 PM

  • Of all the inter-relationships among Social Sciences, those between Political Science and Public Administration stand apart from others.
  • Political Science, according to a Social Scientist , is concerned with the study of "authoritative allocations of values”.
  • It focuses on the relationship between the State and individual.
  • It provides answers to questions concerning the origin and nature of the State and also considers the institutions through which the members of society exercise power.
  • For a long time Public Administration has been regarded as a part of Political Science.
  • About 100 years ago Woodrow Wilson called for the separation of Public Administration from Political Science on the ground that 'the field of administration is the field of business'.
  • Following Woodrow Wilson, Frank Goodnow, yet another protagonist of the separation of Public Administration from Political Science has observed that since a large pan of administration is not directly connected with politics it needs to be removed from the control of political parties. 
  • Writers from the US were largely influenced by the above mentioned argument and emphasised the need for overcoming the ill-effects of the 'spoils system' according to which the party coming into power replaces the officials appointed by its predecessor with those chosen by it to run administration.
  • However, the hundred years old history of Public Administration brings out the severe limitations to which the growth of Public Administration as an independent discipline is subjected.
  • Again, it would be noted that the administration plays a significant role in the formulation of policies also.
  • It follows that the political system and administration influence each other to such an extent that it will be sometimes difficult to demarcate between the roles played by them respectively in the given case.
  • In a parliamentary government like India while the minister, as a political leader and member of Cabinet participates in policy making, but as the top boss of the Ministry/Department, is also involved in administrative decision making.
  • Similarly though the civil servants are supposed to administer/implement the policy-decisions, the senior administrators are also involved in policy-formulations by way of providing data/information/advice to the Minister.