This comprehensive introductory text starts by charting the origins and evolution of the shift from public administration to public management and moves on to assess the main theories and debates about its character, benefits and problems. After consideration of the party political issues and debates and continuities and discontinuities between the approaches of Thatcher, Major and Blair, the core of the book assesses the main dimensions of change in the organization and content of public sector organization and activity.

First published in 1984 this book has established itself as the leading text in British public administration. The third edition builds on the previous edition's success to bring the considerable changes and very latest developments in the field.
This new edition includes:

a. A new chapter on the influence of Europe
b. A focus on new developments that have emerged in recent years such as managerism, privatisation, consumerism, charters, contracting and regulation.
c. New features include boxed summaries of key concepts and facts, guides to further reading as well as an extensive bibliography.

Written by three leading authorities in the field, this text will be essential reading for those who want an authoritative and comprehensive introduction to public administration.

Britain's Modernised Civil Service provides detailed analysis of the structure and operation of the modern civil service along with an historically grounded account of its development. Key events, personalities and scandals help bring the account to life and illuminate and challenge the various theories of what the civil service is or should be. The authors take the evolutionary change of the civil service as a central theme and examine the impact of the major reforms of recent years on the historic Whitehall unitary model. They assess the impact of the New Public Management agenda of the Thatcher and Major years and the role of the Civil Service in the multi-governmental context of devolution and membership of the European Union. Further changes associated with New Labour such the increased role of think tanks, special advisers and the impact of the freedom of information act further sharpen the picture of today's civil service and lead to a rethinking of theories of its role. This readable book by two leading authorities provides an up-to-date account of Britain's Civil Service that will be essential reading for students of British politics, public policy and management. June Burnham is a researcher and consultant in the area of public services and public policy and formerly Senior Lecturer in European Government at Middlesex University. Robert Pyper is Professor of Government and Public Management, and Head of the Division of Public Policy at Glasgow Caledonian University. He is author of The British Civil Service for which this is a fully-revised replacement volume.

This replacement volume for Governing in the UK in the 1990s brings together specially-commissioned chapters by leading authorities to form an accessible and comprehensive introductory text. The legacy of eighteen years of Conservative Government is fully analysed and the agenda and impact of New Labour stringently evaluated. This stimulating book will inform and guide students on the state of governance in the UK at the start of the new millennium.

First published in 1984 this book has established itself as the leading text in British public administration. The third edition builds on the previous edition's success to bring the considerable changes and very latest developments in the field.
This edition includes:
* a new chapter on the influence of Europe
* a focus on new developments that have emerged in recent years such as managerialism, privatisation, consumerism, charters, contracting and regulation
* new features include boxed summaries of key concepts and facts, guides to further reading as well as an extensive bibliography.
Written by three leading authorities in the field, this text will be essential reading for those who want an authoritative and comprehensive introduction to public administration.