Culture, Development, and Public Administration in Africa

by Ogwo Jombo Umeh, Greg Andranovich

Overview

In the past, public administrators have used Western models in the development of emerging countries. Umeh (public affairs and administration, California State U., East Bay) and Andranovich (political science, California State U., Los Angeles) suggest that these models are inadequate and local cultures must become the basis for administration. They consider prior models and present an "interpretive approach" to understanding development in South African Development Community (SADC) nations of South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. They describe characteristics of administration, the influence of culture, economic development, democratization, decentralization, and post- apartheid South Africa. The book is intended for college students, policymakers, managers, and administrators. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781565492004
Publisher:	Kumarian Press, Inc.
Publication date:	04/28/2005
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.18(w) x 9.32(h) x 0.41(d)

About the Author

Greg Andranovich is Professor of Political Science at California State University, Los Angeles, where he teaches in the public administration program. His research is in urban and regional policy making, and comparative public administration; his publications focus on issues of economic growth and development and collaborative processes.

Ogwo Jombo Umeh is Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Affairs and Administration at California State University, East Bay. His research is in comparative and development public administration and focuses on sub-Saharan Africa, democratic governance, organizational management and public policy. His publications focus on comparative administration and democratic governance issues.

Table of Contents

1) Introduction; 2) Characteristics of Administration in Developing Countries; 3) The Interpretive Dimension of Administration: Culture and its Impacts; 4) The SADCC Studies; 5) The Interpretive Framework and Public Administration; 6) Bringing Culture Back into the Mix: Some Reflections; 7) Epilogue: Post-Apartheid South Africa

Editorial Reviews

"Offers the reader an overview of the continent, with a particular focus on the countries of the Southern African Development Coordinating Conference. Succinctly, they provide us with a list of the critical issues confronting the administration of those countries, with a particular focus on the range of skills required for the major tasks at hand, constraints, and opportunities. The stress on methodology is particularly well placed in a critical study of culture and a book that wants to avoid dependence on Western models."

"Essential reading for students wishing to get a handle on comparative and development administration. Provides readers with a comprehensive, analytically informed, and conceptually sound view of public administration that should open an important window to the reality of developing society."

From the Publisher