Advancing Administration and Human Rights

This commentary introduces the emerging field of Administration and Human Rights (AHR), a framework that integrates human rights principles—establishing minimum standards for individual dignity that frame government action, including efforts to ensure equity and promote participation—into the theory and practice of public administration. AHR bridges public administration, law, and human rights. These three traditions provide an analytical and practical framework to convert universal norms and values to enforceable obligations, while remaining responsive to context. The formation of the American Society for Public Administration’s new Community of Interest, the Administration and Human Rights Caucus, marks a turning point in uniting scholars and practitioners who see administration as a vehicle for realizing global rights, and building trust in democratic and representative governance.