“His treatment of issues of social equity and fairness sets this work apart from most texts in Public Administration.” (*) Updated, expanded, and featuring three new readings, this textbook provides a unique approach for instructors who want to expose their students to the social, political, and historical context of the practice of public administration. While most introductory texts cover a wide range of topics and are oriented toward details of management technique, this innovative volume focuses instead on the broader society within which public service practitioners work. The author's own text is skillfully interwoven with a collection of seminal readings and documents that illuminate the key issues of past and present for public service professionals in a democratic society. Endorsements:

"Richard Box makes a dynamic, unique and essential contribution to the Public Administration literature. His treatment of issues of social equity and fairness sets this work apart from most texts in Public Administration. Much like the design of American government, this text represents delicate balances between micro issues of citizenship and macro issues of administration, between efficient and fair governance and government, and between the impulses of tradition and the imperatives of the future." — Lenneal Henderson, University of Baltimore (*)

"A brilliant blend of the foundations of public administration and central issues in the field. Richard Box has included in one book the essentials that must be read, and are often missed, by every public administrator. From the founding days of the nation to the contemporary role of citizens and public administration practitioners, the book is comprehensive yet very accessible to students." — Mohamad G. Alkadry, Old Dominion University