Administration Dichotomy - Essay Example

In our study of public administration, politics and government are to different terms but are interrelated. As a matter of fact, they are interwoven and knotted to each other in a manner that one becomes almost meaningless without the other. We cannot talk about politics without mentioning administration and we cannot talk about administration without mentioning politics. Understanding politics is the key to understanding public administration. As politics is the formulation of public policy, administration on the other hand is carrying out such policy.

So as for me, to deal with these two separately will be impractical and not workable. Politics can stand for the public interest as it is about the activities of an interest group that can penetrate the whole fabric of government. In this sense, the government becomes the organization, machinery, or agency through which a political unit exercises authority and performs functions. In my observation, public administration works in a highly political environment. This is because, under the bureaucratic structure of the government, the administrator cannot achieve the objectives of his organization without any political intervention.

For example, appropriation in carrying out the goals of any government institution must be authorized by the legislature. In this case, the administrator should strive to win the support and approval of the legislature for the program of his administration.The use of the politics – administration dichotomy as a way to advance in the study of public administration can be advantageous and disadvantageous at the same time. It is an advantage for us to separate politics from the administration to maintain the trust of the public.

This is done by suppressing the prevalence of the influence of any political group in government administration. This way, the interest of the people is guarded against the interest of the political group. For example, in the process of appropriation, the administrator should not seek the support of any political group but bear in mind that he owes his position to his constituents and thus should work for the benefit of them. However, the dichotomy becomes disadvantageous when the separation of the two concepts hinders any progress in the government and affects the administrator’s performance in his functions in the government.

This happens when the interest of the political group or party is contrary to the interest of the administrator. Conflicts may arise and this may impede any development in the government. The development of public administration as a science and as a verified part of our society cannot be dismissed. The significance of President Woodrow Wilson in this regard paved the way for the continued development of the area. The question of dichotomy in politics and administration is an unending question that has instigated numerous debates over the subject matter.

The main theory of dichotomy and its counterparts both have their own merits. It is mostly upon the application and in actual cases as to application that we truly see the difference. The success of the government mainly depends on the kind of political system adhered to by the government. This, coupled with a faithful service of public administrators remains to be the best practice of public service.