Respect for the idea of public service has varied over time. In some
periods, the commitment of citizens to public service has been far stronger
than in others. Similarly, the relationship between the public servant and the
public has been characterized in different ways over time. In this chapter,
we will first review several important aspects of democratic citizenship,
then consider these varying views of public service in relation to citizenship.
We will then examine the particular interpretation of public service in
the Old Public Administration, the New Public Management, and the New
Public Service.