Leadership in the Administrative State

This essay provides an alternative framework for interpreting the leadership role of public administrators in governance. It is argued, contrary to the views held by a large band of public administration theorists, that leadership in the administrative state need not and should not be governed solely by the entrepreneurial leadership model. In fact, excessive entrepreneurship is seen as a threat to public institutions. An argument is presented that public administrators are engaged in a special kind of leadership called Administrative Conservatorship. Public administrators are depicted as guardians of public institutions and, in turn, regime values.