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Hurdles to an Asian Century of Public Administration

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Public Policy in the 'Asian Century'

Part of the book series: International Series on Public Policy ((ISPP))

Abstract

This chapter suggests there is not yet a (modern) Asian Century of public administration. The public administration literature is dominated by Western theories, concepts, and practice. Utilisation of structure and value-based framework allows this chapter to unravel “how we know what we know” in public administration, which administrative histories are valued, and how concepts are modified in Asia. The chapter explores several hurdles to an Asian Century of public administration including how scholars are educated, where they publish, language, and the methods utilised. Fully bidirectional intellectual engagement (and not just a West-to-Asia engagement) is necessary for an Asian century of public administration.

This chapter was initially prepared for a two-day symposium at The University of Melbourne in which participants explored the question of whether we are witnessing an “Asian Century” in Public Administration and Public Policy. The Symposium basis was a call by then-PM Julia Gillard to create an ‘Asia-literate’ and ‘Asia-capable’ Australia. The chapter was later modified for presentation at the 2017 Fred Riggs Symposium at the American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) Conference in Atlanta GA (16–20 March 2017). The chapter benefitted from audience comments and an extensive review by two anonymous reviewers along with this volume’s editorial team. Any errors are my own.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia

    Kim Moloney

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  1. Kim Moloney
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Correspondence to Kim Moloney .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Melbourne School of Government, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Sara Bice

  2. Melbourne School of Government, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Avery Poole

  3. Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Canberra, Aust Capital Terr, Australia

    Helen Sullivan

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Moloney, K. (2018). Hurdles to an Asian Century of Public Administration. In: Bice, S., Poole, A., Sullivan, H. (eds) Public Policy in the 'Asian Century'. International Series on Public Policy . Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-60252-7_11

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