Public administration and the rule of law in Asia: breadth without depth?

Public administration in Asia has undergone considerable transformation over the last two decades, yet commitment to the rule of law has remained problematic. Presenting a basic typology of state types based on the breadth and depth of how public administration is situated within the rule of law, this article argues that while in recent years states in Asia have made great strides towards fuller legalisation and judicialisation of the public administration space as part of a broader process of institutional layering, they have largely failed to deepen its enforcement in terms of universality and impartiality. Drawing on East Asian Barometer data, the analysis shows how, because citizens’ attitudes have given little support to the rule of law framework in public administration, elites have had little incentive to advocate for reform. Taking into account the broader organisation of state power in Asia with its ideological emphasis on developmental outcomes, substantial empirical and theoretical questions are raised about the trajectory of public administration in the region.