Updated in a new 2 nd edition, this book examines public administration from a normative perspective, and provides readers with an understanding of thepracticeof public administration. It combines historical, contextual, and theoretical perspectives that give readers a truly comprehensive overview of the discipline and focuses on the practical implications of public administration theory.

Raymond W. Cox III is Professor in the Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies at the University of Akron. He received his PhD in Public Administration and Policy from Virginia Tech. Dr. Cox is the author of nearly fifty academic and professional publications, including two books (an introductory text and a book on grievance procedures and labor relations) and ten reports for government agencies, as well as more than thirty-five professional papers.

Susan Buck is Associate Professor of Political Science and teaches in both the Political Science Department and the Environmental Studies Program. Her PhD is in Public Administration with a specialization in Natural Resources Management (Virginia Tech).

Betty Morgan is Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Administration. She received her PhD in Public Administration and Public Policy from Virginia Tech and a Master's degree in European Union Law from the University of Leicester in the UK.