Theory and Practice of Public Administration in Southeast Asia: Traditions, Directions, and Impacts

In Southeast Asia, it is possible to discern three distinct models of public administration at various stages of its evolution, including the colonial-bureaucratic, the postcolonial-developmental, and the current "new public management" models. These models originated mostly in western nations, and were subsequently borrowed by (or imposed on) various countries in the region. However, there were considerable gaps between these ideal-type administrative models and the actual administrative practices in Southeast Asia. There also emerged major variations among countries in the region in terms of the extent to which they conform to the original models due to their differences in colonial backgrounds and national contexts. These issues and concerns are critically examined in this article. It concludes by making some critical assessment of the major trends of public administration in the region.