Urban Public Administration
In the 1940s two political theorists, Carl J. Friedrich and Herman Finer, debated a critical question of accountability in American public administration: whether professional norms or external controls were necessary to keep administrators accountable. In other words, how much can we rely on the laws to keep administrators in check and how much can we rely on the uniform training of our administrators? Reenact this historic debate. Which do you think is a better accountability measure, external or internal controls and/or the personal character of the administrator? How do you support your choice? As you know, the text deconstructs both of these ideas, saying that in the current policy environment neither is effective. Why is it so? What do you think is the solution to keeping administrators accountable in the twenty-first century?
