Three paradigms of public administration: an analysis of the current status of public administration

Abstract

Historically, there have been three paradigs of public management, namely, the Machiavelli-Hobbes Paradign (MHP), the Wilson-Weber Paradigm (WWP), and the Ostron-Hayek Paradigm (OHP). These paradigms have different characteristics ad face different challenges. After more than 100 years of development throughout the western countries, the WWP has achived its utmost, having emerged as an obstacle to further development. Given this, Western coutries are now embracing the OHP, and the New Public Management is a reform that is fostrering this transformation. In China, however, the situation is very differnt. Due to the feudal traditions and the dominant governance ethod (rule by man, not by law), public administration in China contains several aspects of the MHP. Currently, China's most pressing challenge encompasses instituting reforms that will cultivate a public administrative system where the rule of law prevails. The change to bureaucracy and establishment of WWP is ultimately more critical than the New Public Management.