Synthesis and Relevance in Comparative Public Administration

The main objectives of this study are: (1) to delineate the early commitments and orientations of the comparative studies of public administration; (2) to examine some of the conceptual and methodological problems and issues encountered by current comparative research; and (3) to suggest possible directions which have not been adequately utilized in the theoretical development of the comparative approach. A central thesis of this effort is that a higher degree of synthesis and relevance of comparative analysis may be attained through conceptualization of critical administrative problems at the middle range level and involving institutions rather than entire national administrative systems.