Thinking Government: Public Administration and Politics in Canada, Third Edition

Thinking Government: Public Administration and Politics in Canada, Third Edition

Weight 0.00 lbs
By David Johnson
University of Toronto Press, Higher Education Division © 2012
World Rights
528 Pages
Paper
ISBN 9781442603967
Published Jul 2011
$69.95
Description
Author
Contents
Reviews
Rooted in the intellectual tradition of Kenneth Kernaghan and David Siegel, Thinking Government renews a discussion of power relations between elected politicians and unelected public servants, while also incorporating the practical approach of studying public administration within the dynamics of federal politics. It asks how the ideological framework of this country shapes what Canadians, their political parties, and their governments think about policy actions and the responsibilities of public servants.

This edition is extensively revised and updated. New pedagogical features highlight key issues in public administration and help students connect theories to the reality of practice. Additional diagrams illustrate the mechanisms of government, and new chapter objectives and conclusions create a clear foundational and analytical account of public administration in Canada.

www.thinkinggovernment.com is completely redesigned and now includes further case studies, study questions, quizzes, and downloadable extras.

David Johnson is Professor of Political Science at Cape Breton University in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Introduction

1. Thinking about Canadian Society and Government
2. Ideologies of Government and Public Service
3. Institutions of Governance
4. Ministers and Cabinet Decision-Making Systems
5. Organizational Design and Management Decision Making
6. Financial Management
7. Human Resources Management
8. Issues in Management Reform
9. Accountability: Responsibility, Responsiveness, and Ethics
10. The Challenges of Leadership

Key Terms

Index
Students and practitioners of Canadian politics and public administration looking for a comprehensive, insightful, and well-written review of the forces, processes, and institutions shaping government operations and decision making should look no further than David Johnson's Thinking Government.

Donald J. Savoie, Canada Research Chair in Public Administration and Governance, Universite de Moncton

David Johnson has once again written a superb text on federal public management in Canada—comprehensive, accessible, up-to-date, and engaging. Addressing historical and contemporary principles, trends, and challenges involved in public administration, the text is an invaluable resource for students, practitioners, and scholars alike. Suitable for introductory and upper-year courses, Thinking Government lives up to its name, encouraging readers to reflect on the past, present, and future of public management.

Monica Gattinger, University of Ottawa

An excellent text for the study of Canadian public administration. David Johnson's writing melds the classical theories and historical evolution of Canadian public management in a crisp, clear fashion by citing significant case examples and articulating contemporary relationships between politicians and public bureaucrats. Thinking Government is a complete one-stop source for both online and traditional classroom studies of public administration.

Robert Heuton, University of Windsor