New public management and professionals in the public sector. What new patterns beyond opposition?

• Published in: Sociologie du travail (Paris) Vol. 54; no. supplément 1; pp. e1 - e52
• Main Authors: Bezes, Philippe, Demazière, Didier, Le Bianic, Thomas, Paradeise, Catherine, Normand, Romuald, Benamouzig, Daniel, Pierru, Frédéric, Evetts, Julia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier SAS 01.10.2012; Association pour le développement de la sociologie du travail
• Subjects: Administrative reform; Autonomy; Collective action; France; Humanities and Social Sciences; New public management; Occupational autonomy; Occupations; Professional bureaucracies; Professional groups; Professional workers; Professionalism; Professions; Public administration; Reform of the public administration; Sociology; Sociology of work; Occupational autonomy; Professional bureaucracies; New public management; Reform of the public administration; Professionalism; France; Professional groups; Professions
• ISSN: 0038-0296; 1777-5701
• DOI: 10.1016/j.soctra.2012.07.001

The proliferation of reforms in public administration based on the principles and instruments of the “New Public Management” (NPM) have triggered protest from and collective action by many professional groups in various sectors (healthcare, education, justice, social work, research…) and raised questions about the future of professionals working in the public service, particularly as concerns their autonomy. However, after analyzing the situation, it seems that the opposition between NPM and certain professional groups is not the last word in the debate. Should changes be seen as the decline of professional groups and of their autonomy or as a transformation of professional models, an overhaul of professionalism, etc.? Such questions, which current events in France and Europe have brought to the fore, are food for ongoing sociological thought. They are broached here empirically, from the field, applying varied levels of analysis and research. The contributors to this dossier explore the different forms of tension existing between professional groups and NPM.