New public administration

New Public Administration (NPA) is a movement in public administration that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, characterized by a shift away from traditional bureaucratic approaches to governance. The NPA movement was influenced by the social and political changes of the time, including the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, and the growing awareness of social and environmental issues.

Key features of the New Public Administration movement include:

1. Humanization of the bureaucracy: NPA emphasizes the importance of human relationships and values in the public sector, recognizing that public administrators are not just neutral technicians, but rather human beings with their own biases and values.
2. Participatory governance: NPA advocates for greater citizen participation in the decision-making process, recognizing that citizens have a right to be involved in the governance of their communities.
3. Decentralization and devolution: NPA promotes decentralization and devolution of power to lower levels of government, community organizations, and individual citizens, in order to increase responsiveness and accountability.
4. Emphasis on social equity: NPA prioritizes social equity and justice, recognizing that public policy should be designed to address the needs and interests of all members of society, particularly those who are marginalized or disadvantaged.
5. Critique of traditional bureaucracy: NPA challenges traditional bureaucratic values and practices, such as hierarchy, formalism, and secrecy, and advocates for more flexible, adaptive, and transparent forms of governance.

Some of the key thinkers associated with the New Public Administration movement include:

1. Frank Goodnow: Goodnow is considered one of the founders of the NPA movement. He argued that public administration should be based on a philosophy of service, rather than a philosophy of power.
2. John Rohr: Rohr is a prominent scholar of public administration who has written extensively on the themes of NPA. He argues that public administration should be based on a commitment to democratic values and principles.
3. Vincent Ostrom: Ostrom is a Nobel laureate in economics who has made significant contributions to the field of public administration. He is known for his work on the importance of local governance and community-based decision-making.

Some of the key challenges and criticisms of the New Public Administration movement include:

1. Lack of clear definition: NPA is often criticized for being a vague and amorphous movement, lacking a clear definition or set of principles.
2. Overemphasis on values: Some critics argue that NPA places too much emphasis on values and not enough on practical, technical considerations.
3. Difficulty in implementation: NPA's emphasis on participatory governance and decentralization can be difficult to implement in practice, particularly in large, complex organizations.
4. Risk of co-optation: NPA's emphasis on citizen participation and community-based decision-making can be co-opted by powerful interests, leading to the exclusion of marginalized groups.

Overall, the New Public Administration movement has had a significant impact on the field of public administration, shaping the way that governments and public organizations approach governance and decision-making. While it has faced challenges and criticisms, NPA remains an important and influential movement in the field.