Routledge - Citizen, Customer, Partner: Engaging the Public

Explore the complex relationship between public administration and the people it serves. For nearly fifty years, scholars and practitioners have debated the fundamental roles the public plays in government. This book examines whether the public acts primarily as citizen-owners to whom administrators are responsible, as customers of government services, or as partners in an increasingly networked world. Rather than choosing one single perspective, this text operates on the premise that the public engages with government in all three capacities. It provides a deep look into how these roles function within public management and the production of public services. This is an essential resource for anyone studying organizational theory, public administration, or the evolving dynamics of how government and society interact.