The Revista de Administração pública (RAP) and the evolution in the area of public administration in Brasil (1965-92)

Abstract

This study proposes to assess the evolution in the field of public administration in Brazil through the analysis of the articles published by RAP from 1967 to 1992. On the basis of the methodology proposed by Golembiewski (1977), the 721 articles have been subsumed according to their focus (theoretical instruments utilized) and their locus (the empirical object on which the analysis befalls). From such classification have resulted three paradigms constituting the field in the above mentioned period: (a) public administration as an administrative science; (b) public administration as political science; and (c) (the emerging paradigm) public administration as public administration. This last paradigm's consolidation signals in the direction of a strengthening and a clearer delimitation of the area of public administration in Brazil.