Evolution of public management paradigms: From traditional administration to governance

Abstract

This article explores major paradigms in the evolution of public management, including traditional administrative management, New Public Management (NPM), and the post-NPM paradigm. At the beginning of the 20th century, public administration emerged as a distinct discipline for the first time, influenced by the ideas of classical organizational theories. This paradigm became fully ingrained in Weberian bureaucracy and its vertical-hierarchical mode. However, since the 1960s, the limitations of this model have emerged as states faced increasing challenges and heightened public expectations.

In response to these challenges, the NPM was introduced in the 1980s, advocating for the use of private management methods in the public sector, emphasizing efficiency, cost reduction, and decentralization. However, this paradigm was criticized for fragmenting the public sector, neglecting the specific attributes of public organizations, and yielding mixed performance results.

These criticisms led to post-NPM movements, seeking to integrate best management practices while considering the specificities of the public sector. Among these, the governance paradigm is highlighted. Governance, in this sense, emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and citizen participation, aiming to strike a balance between efficiency and accountability.

Keywords: Public Management, Public Administration, New Public Management (NPM), Governance, post-NPM paradigm.

JEL Classification: H83

Paper type: Theoretical Research