New Perspectives in Public Administration: A Political Process of Education and Leadership Through Mediation

• Published in: Administrative theory & praxis Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 438 - 444
• Main Authors: Salm, Joao, Ordway, Jared L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon M. E. Sharpe 01.09.2010; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Collaboration; Communities; Community associations; Education; Ethics; Forum; Leadership; Mediation; Mediators; Pedagogy; Philosophy; Political conflict; Political education; Political leadership; Political processes; Public Administration; Public administration education; Theory; Workplaces; United States > US
• ISSN: 1084-1806

Celebrating its fortieth year of publication in English, Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed reminds them that education provides insight about the critical role of education within politics. For the purposes of contributing to the theory and practice of public administration, the authors intention in this essay is to draw upon Freire's description of education outlined in his seminal work as it relates to opportunities to educate public administration leadership about participatory dialogue, deliberation, and humanization through conflict. With this goal in mind, they reflect on Freire?s notion of education as being consistent with the practices and philosophy traditionally associated with community-oriented mediation. One direct way to manifest the concept of political education within the sphere of public administration?s workplace is the development of conflict resolution programs such as mediation or integrated conflict management systems (ICMS). Such programs exist within US government agencies and offices, including the Federal Sharing Neutral and ICMS programs.