Exploration Of Wilson's Administrative Theory:Research Of German Administrative Thought In Nineteenth Century

The “identity crisis” of Public Administration has not been overcome since its outbreak in the middle of last century. In a sense, Wilson's one-sided interpretation of the “politics-administration dichotomy” theory of German administrative thought, which leads to atrophy of basic theory of Public Administration. Therefore, criticism and reflection of the “politics-administration dichotomy” theory requires that we should reread Wilson's The Study of Administration as well as seek the source of German administrative thought back to the period before Wilson.Based on the reflection of the origin of the discipline marked by Wilson, this article focuses on German administrative thought in the nineteenth century. The rise of the modern nation-state and German reunification of “Prussian Way” request German academic circles put the study of the administration on the agenda. Early German administration thought aufheben previous Cameralist, which makes its administrative thought not only pursues efficiency of operation of administration, but makes the theory of administration applied to the concept of the nation. On the other hand, the emerging civil society also makes early German administrative thought contain liberalism thought. So, early German administrative thought embodies strong feature of harmonicity. Similarly, “politics-administration dichotomy” emphasizes the integration more than the separation in the context of German administration. Quotation of dichotomy by Wilson belongs to transformation interpretation, which lays theoretical basis for America bringing into the study of administration. In the age of rapid differentiation of discipline, German Administration characterized by “integration thought” has been marginalized gradually. What's more, after being introduced to America, Administration goes on the scientific process, completes the transformation of disciplinary paradigm, also buries the theoretical root cause of extreme “managerialism”.This article has the value broaden the historical vision of the discipline of Administration. More importantly, early German integrated administration orientation and cross-field discipline study path also provide historical reference for core problems in current development of Administration, such as disciplinary orientation and study path. While for “copinism” spirit, the transformation interpretation of Wilson on German administrative thought, China's academic circles has been appealing for referring and learning it for “localization” or “Chinization” of Public Administration.