Woodrow Wilson was a significant figure in the development of public administration as an academic discipline. As the 28th President of the United States, he is credited with revolutionizing the concept of public administration, laying the foundation for the modern administrative state, and promoting the idea of a merit-based, professional civil service.
Wilson’s ideas on public administration were first published in his famous essay, “The Study of Administration,” which appeared in the Political Science Quarterly in 1887. In the essay, Wilson argued that public administration was a unique field of study that required a different set of skills and knowledge from politics. He contended that politics was mainly concerned with policy-making and goal setting, while public administration was mainly concerned with the practical implementation of policies and the efficient management of public resources.
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Wilson believed that the main objective of public administration was to provide efficient and effective services to the public. He advocated that the government should operate like a business, with a focus on efficiency, productivity, and cost-effectiveness. Wilson believed that achieving this goal was possible by establishing a professional civil service based on merit and expertise rather than political connections or personal favoritism.
Wilson’s views on the civil service called for its independence from political influence, operated based on objective and scientific principles. He opined that civil servants should be selected based on their qualifications, experience, and expertise, trained in the principles of management and administration. He believed that civil servants should be held accountable for their performance and evaluated based on their ability to achieve specific goals and objectives.
During his presidency, Wilson’s ideas were put into practice as he worked towards establishing a professional civil service based on merit and expertise. He set up the Civil Service Commission, responsible for the hiring and promotion of civil servants based on merit, and initiated a system of objective performance evaluations for civil servants.
Wilson’s ideas also influenced the development of public administration as an academic discipline, establishing it as a distinct field of study. His emphasis on the scientific study of administration and the importance of professional expertise helped to shape the study of public administration. Other scholars, such as Luther Gulick, expanded on Wilson’s ideas, emphasizing the importance of efficiency and productivity in public administration.
Despite his contributions, Wilson’s views have received criticism. Critics argue that his emphasis on efficiency and productivity has led to a narrow and technocratic approach to governance that ignores the broader social and political context. Additionally, the emphasis on a merit-based civil service has resulted in a rigid and hierarchical bureaucracy that is resistant to change.
In conclusion, Woodrow Wilson’s views on public administration were critical in the development of the modern administrative state and the establishment of public administration as an academic discipline. His focus on efficiency, productivity, and professional expertise has had a lasting impact on the way governments operate in the United States and around the world. While some have criticized his ideas, they remain a fundamental foundation for the study and practice of public administration today.