Just Like Paradise? Reflections on Idealized Governance and Other Funhouse Mirrors

Abstract

Research on psychology and philosophy, particularly discussions of lived experiences, can inform contemporary reflection on utopia in public administration. Deconstructing religious, historical, and literary perspectives on utopia can illuminate discussions and illustrate the relativistic nature of utopia and the consequences for the administrative state. Using the cases of constitutionalism and neomanagerialism as examples, this article deconstructs contemporary views of administrative “paradise” while opening a dialogue for more detailed critique of contemporary theory and praxis in public administration.

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