Understanding Towards a New Public Administration-Minnowbrook

The question asks about the editor of a significant book titled "Towards a New Public Administration-Minnowbrook". This book is a key text associated with the first Minnowbrook Conference.

The first Minnowbrook Conference was a pivotal event held in 1968 at Syracuse University's Minnowbrook Conference Center. It brought together younger scholars in public administration to discuss the future direction of the field, leading to the emergence of the New Public Administration (NPA) movement. The NPA movement emphasized relevance, values, social equity, and change in public administration, shifting focus from the traditional, value-neutral, bureaucratic model.

The ideas and discussions from this influential conference were compiled and published in a book. Identifying the editor of this book is crucial for understanding the publication history of the NPA movement's foundational text.

Identifying the Editor of the Minnowbrook Book

The book that documented the proceedings and ideas of the first Minnowbrook Conference is indeed "Towards a New Public Administration-Minnowbrook". The individual who edited this landmark publication is Frank Marini.

Frank Marini played a central role in organizing and shaping the outcome of the 1968 Minnowbrook Conference and subsequently edited the volume that disseminated its impact and proposals to a wider audience in the field of public administration.

Let's consider the given options:

• James Charlesworth: While a significant figure in public administration, he is not credited as the editor of "Towards a New Public Administration-Minnowbrook".
• Frank Marini: Frank Marini is widely recognized as the editor of this foundational text emerging from the first Minnowbrook Conference.
• W.F. Willoughby: W.F. Willoughby is associated with earlier periods of public administration thought, particularly known for his work on government administration and budgeting in the early 20th century. He is not connected to the Minnowbrook Conference or the NPA movement.
• Frank J. Goodnow: Frank J. Goodnow is considered one of the "fathers of American public administration," known for his work on the politics-administration dichotomy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He predates the Minnowbrook Conference by several decades.

Based on the historical records and academic literature pertaining to the New Public Administration movement and the Minnowbrook Conference, Frank Marini was the editor of the book "Towards a New Public Administration-Minnowbrook".

Conclusion on the Editor

The editor of the book "Towards a New Public Administration-Minnowbrook" is Frank Marini.

Revision Table: Key Concepts

Additional Information on Public Administration Thought

The Minnowbrook Conference and the resulting book edited by Frank Marini marked a turning point in public administration. Prior to this, the field had largely focused on efficiency, economy, and the politics-administration dichotomy, influenced by scholars like Woodrow Wilson and Frank J. Goodnow, and later refined with ideas from figures associated with scientific management and bureaucratic theory.

The New Public Administration (NPA) called for public administrators to be more proactive in addressing societal problems, especially issues of social equity. It was a response to the social and political turmoil of the 1960s, including the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War.

While NPA was influential, it also faced criticisms and later evolved into or paved the way for subsequent paradigms like New Public Management (NPM) and New Public Governance (NPG), each offering different perspectives on the role and function of government in society.

Understanding the historical context and the contributions of key figures like Frank Marini is essential for comprehending the evolution of public administration theory and practice.