Postmodernism and American Public Administration in the 1990s

Abstract

The 1990s debate on postmodernism as a metatheoretical basis for American public administration is reviewed based on its progress over time. Important themes in the debates are social constructivism and anti-foundationalism; deconstruction and narrative and linguistic analysis; pragmatism; and quantum theory. Considerable differences exist between the participants, and strictly speaking, there are rather few true postmodernists, but there is a large group of theorists who share a strong skepticism for the generalizing type of theory and instead recommend more situational analysis. Most of these theorists are pragmatists with a strong interest in public administration as an instrument to achieve a better society on the basis of democratic participation.