Drawing the Line: On the Public/Private Distinction in Debates on New Modes of Governance. (2nd July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tholen, Berry
• Is Part Of: Public integrity. Volume 18:Number 3(2016)
• Page Start: 237
• Page End: 253
• Publication Date: 2016-07-02
• Subjects: liberalism -- New Public Management -- publicness -- republicanism -- values; Civil service ethics -- United States -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects -- United States -- Periodicals; Political ethics -- United States -- Periodicals; Civil service ethics -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Periodicals; Political ethics -- Periodicals; Civil service ethics; Political ethics; Public administration -- Moral and ethical aspects; United States; PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION; CIVIL SERVICE; MORAL ASPECTS; POLITICAL ETHICS; Periodicals; 172
• DOI: 10.1080/10999922.2016.1139531
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1099-9922

Abstract

Abstract : Privatization, output steering, and other measures that are often collectively referred to as New Public Management have been broadly commented on in recent years. Critiques of New Public Management lament a diminishing publicness and an erosion of the public/private distinction. On closer inspection, however, the meaning of these concepts in the critiques is often not clear, which leads to confusion and paradox. Most notably, it remains unclear what is at stake in the public/private distinction. In this article, it is argued that these issues can be clarified when it is acknowledged that there are, in fact, two underlying ideals: a liberal ideal and a republican one. An elaboration of these ideals, and of the relation between them, helps in gaining a better understanding of the problems the new modes of government entail and in formulating more promising alternatives.