Teaching democracy: A review of public administration introductory courses

Abstract

The concept of democracy is a critical area of study and practice within the field of public administration. From democratic governance to democratic values, and by extension social equity, justice, cultural competence, and fairness, democracy, as a term, continues to be conceptualized in varying ways. An underlying assumption of public service work, however, is that administrators – who have been trained through public administration programs – are taught the values and strategies to practice democracy within a U.S. context. This research examines the extent to which academic public administration programs teach and promote democracy. Through an evaluation of public administration programs the authors evaluate the exclusion or inclusion of democracy related principles in introductory courses. Using the content analysis method, syllabi of introductory public administration courses underscore the marginalized inclusion of democratic perspectives and values.