Future Directions of Public Administration Research-Addressing Fundamental Issues and Questions

• Published in: International journal of public administration Vol. 48; no. 5-6; pp. 299 - 305
• Main Authors: Christensen, Tom, Lægreid, Per
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Routledge 26.04.2025; Marcel Dekker, Inc
• Subjects: Autocracy; digitalization; Management; Management of crises; Multi-level governance; Populism; Public Administration; Public Administration theory; temporal context
• ISSN: 0190-0692; 1532-4265
• DOI: 10.1080/01900692.2025.2470006

This introduction to the special issue on future directions of Public Administration research addressing fundamental issues and questions, reflects on some selected subjects emerging from the accepted articles. We outline some main themes and place aspects of the single articles within them. The topics covered are theoretical development in Public Administration, the significance of the political and normative context of transboundary public administration, the importance of temporal context, and increased focus on specific policy areas such as crisis management and digitalization in a comparative perspective. It concludes by pointing to the importance of understanding and meeting the challenges of democratic backsliding, regime-threatening populism, and autocratic government.