Page 293 - POLITIEK OF MANAGEMENT?
P. 293

The managerial perspective dates from the 19th century and has contributed to the professionalization of public administration and to the distinction between the domains of politics and administration. Particularly since the rise of New Public Management (NPM), the managerial perspective has become strongly linked to belief in the free market. In analysing public administration the managerial perspective dominates despite some opposing and critical voices. From the managerial perspective effectiveness, (cost-) efficiency and continuity appear to be the key characteristics of successful reform.
The political perspective focuses on the battle between competing values. Through politics, this battle can be fought in a non-violent and democratic way. Although primarily a struggle on the political level, the distinction between political policymaking and administrative implementation cannot be made as precisely as is sometimes suggested since implementation is also a political process. In western European society, democratic legitimacy is a requirement of this political process. How value conflicts are dealt with and the democratic legitimacy of the political process are our key characteristics within this perspective. The legal approach in the study of Public Administration has been increasingly marginalised. The legal perspective however acknowledges that government is an active part of the ‘rechtsstaat’ and therein plays a particular role as source, keeper and guardian of the law. The actions of public authorities are grounded in law. Therefore, legality is a feature within this perspective. Furthermore, citizens rely on governments to guard and realise their rights. Consequently, general principles of law are the second characteristic of the legal perspective. In this study, the focus is on the general principles of legal certainty and equality before the law.
The social perspective regards the municipality as a local community. As an institution, the municipality originated from local communities living in villages and towns. Communities have partially transferred the care for the weaker within society to the government. This development coincides with the rise of fundamental social rights. Whereas government, from a legal perspective, ensures the citizens’ traditional fundamental rights, it also does so from a social perspective. However, a municipality is also a community in the sense that citizens live together and jointly shape their community. The study focuses on two characteristics from the social perspective: the way in which the administration cares for its citizens and the involvement of those citizens with each other and their community.
SUMMARY
291


































































































   291   292   293   294   295