Political Science the presumptive "mother discipline" of public administration clearly has had a profound effect on the character of the field. The fundamental precepts of American political Science, such as the self-evident worth of democracy, a pluralistic polity, political participation, and equality and due process under law, continue to hold sway among even the most independently-minded public administrationists. If, to indulge in speculation. public administration has been born and bred in the nation's business schools, would we have the same kind of academic field thet we have today? Perhaps not. So. despite the disdain with with political science often treated public administration political science likely was a salutary former of the field in laying its normative foundations.
Beyond providing a base of democratic values however Polilical Sceience seems to have less utility in the education of Publice administrrators. Aske ascholar, “What can public Seience contribute to the improvement of practitioner skill? An overview of the major intellectual approaches within public Science suggests the answer is “not much” Or, to put the matter plainly. Political Seience educates for ( to guote one particularly lucid synopsis ) “ intellectualized Understanding “ of Publice administrrators, Whereas the field itself educates for “ knowledgeableaction,” and these epistemologies-academic veereus professional-have fundamental differences