At the end of this course, the student will learn:
major theories of public administration (their underlying assumptions, conclusions about the nature of public administration, and their reform prescriptions)
political bases of different approaches to the notion of "public interest"
the history of the practice of public administration
key concepts used to examine organisational reforms in the public context
the relationship between the notions of "public interest" and the "urban"
the role and place of local government(s) in different theories of public administration
the administrative problems and reform pressures caused by processes of urbanisation.
the dynamics that shape the relations between central and local governments (and thus dynamics of local government reform)
administrative issues underlying organisational arrangements in local governments