TY - JOUR
T1 - Relationship between politics and administration
T2 - a comparative analysis of legislation and governance in Pacific Island governmental systems
AU - Ugyel, Lhawang
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 The University of Hong Kong.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - The politics-administration dichotomy has long been a subject of considerable debate in public administration. Despite the argument that there is no strict separation between politics and administration, the tension between the two continues to be significant. In response, this article explores why, and the extent to which, countries seek by various legislative means to maintain political neutrality in administration and restrict political involvement by public servants. The focus is on arrangements in 12 Pacific Island governmental systems with the aim of determining whether or not provisions in legislation address important aspects of political neutrality and political involvement and what the implications are for governance. Significantly, the dynamics and complexities in forging an appropriate balance between politics and administration vary considerably from one system to another. On the basis of indicators of government capacity and effectiveness in the Pacific, it is not possible to make causal claims or to discern distinctive patterns in the relationship between politics and administration.
AB - The politics-administration dichotomy has long been a subject of considerable debate in public administration. Despite the argument that there is no strict separation between politics and administration, the tension between the two continues to be significant. In response, this article explores why, and the extent to which, countries seek by various legislative means to maintain political neutrality in administration and restrict political involvement by public servants. The focus is on arrangements in 12 Pacific Island governmental systems with the aim of determining whether or not provisions in legislation address important aspects of political neutrality and political involvement and what the implications are for governance. Significantly, the dynamics and complexities in forging an appropriate balance between politics and administration vary considerably from one system to another. On the basis of indicators of government capacity and effectiveness in the Pacific, it is not possible to make causal claims or to discern distinctive patterns in the relationship between politics and administration.
KW - Pacific Island governmental systems
KW - political appointments
KW - political involvement
KW - political neutrality
KW - politics and administration
KW - politics-administration dichotomy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85111558663&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/23276665.2017.1361626
DO - 10.1080/23276665.2017.1361626
M3 - Article
SN - 2327-6665
VL - 39
SP - 153
EP - 162
JO - Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration
JF - Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration
IS - 3
ER -