Political Studies and Public Administration in a Century

From the dawn of civilization,Political Science and Public Administration have developed a close relationship.The development of a more stable society during any era in the existence of any civilization could not take place without the improvement and coordination of political and administrative techniques that foster social cohesion.The two fields not only study and develop such techniques, but also work toward accomplishing such cohesion.The field of Public Administration has been acknowledged to have a niche in Political Science. Yet this position has not always been a comfortable one. Through their quest for authority, autonomy, professionalism, and scientism, both have emerged as two disciplines that had proven capable of institutionalizing their distinct formal knowledge. The transformation of this body of knowledge, from generalized to more specialized, contributed at times to an alliance and at other times to a growing tension between the two disciplines. Despite a rocky journey, the two fields appeared to have a natural alliance that had endured harsh times and weak ties.This book examines this relation over a century's period.