European civil services between tradition and reform

Abstract:

The terms 'bureaucrat' and 'civil servant' may be synonymous in the minds of many and will be coloured by the interface between the 'public' and the public sector. Despite many changes in the delivery methods of public services, that traditional attitude persists. This book looks beyond that prejudice to provide an insight into the reform measures being undertaken in public sector management.

The work is organised over six chapters. Following a comprehensive introduction chapter two explores the concept of change and rationality, seeking to understand what changes civil services and whether or not the changes are considered to be for the better or for the worse. The next chapter examines the advantages and disadvantages of the traditional civil service and the attractiveness of the civil service as an employer. Chapter four looks at changes in society and considers the impact they will have upon civil services. The civil service has long been a testing ground for theories of Human Resource Management and in chapter five some of the most important reforms are discussed, with their effects on performance, job satisfaction and morale of the workforce being examined. The closing chapter looks at the reforms in the context of the recent expansion of the EU and whether they might be recommended for the Acceding States.

The work will interest scholars, students and practitioners engaged in the field of Public Administration.

Christoph Demmke is Associate Professor of Comparative Public Administration, European Institute of Public Administration, Maastricht, The Netherlands.