Public administration and the logic of resolution
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-15-2017
Abstract
Through a critical reading of Wilson’s 1887 article, I propose a political logic of public administration, what I call the logic of resolution. A central but neglected aspect of Wilson’s article is the focus and importance of closure and creation, both of which underscore how public administration emerged not only as an area of study, but also as a political project. I discuss three central considerations of the logic of resolution: problem framing, solutionism, and optics. This logic conditions how problems can be viewed and, consequently, limits available actions. By developing the logic of resolution, I make explicit the hegemonic discourse of public administration.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Critical Policy Studies
First Page
272
Last Page
290
Recommended Citation
Heidelberg, R. (2017). Public administration and the logic of resolution. Critical Policy Studies, 11 (3), 272-290. https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171.2016.1147364