What is Development Administration ?

 Institutional development focuses on the "humanly devised constraints that shape human intentions" or "the rules of the game by which individuals in society find themselves when contemplating action and the rules" (Ganapati 2004). This field, established by the work of New Institutionalism led by Douglas North (1990) in economics, encompasses political economy, political science, and sociology. It emphasizes the process of development rather than just its outcomes, such as the enforcement of property rights, good governance, and regulatory forms, rather than simply increased GDP (Ganapati 2004). This perspective challenges the traditional state vs. market discussion by raising questions about institutional determinism, including who defines what constitutes good institutions.

Kim Moloney's dissertation research on "Understanding the World Bank as an Organization: A Study of its Public Sector Management Projects (1983-2007)" reveals that the World Bank first incorporated topics like good governance, decentralization, corruption, and accountability into its technical assistance in 1991. These concepts, influenced by Western-style governments including American public administration, were introduced into the developing world through the Bank's general council's office. However, Moloney's research indicates that by 2007, these types of projects comprised only about 25 percent of the Bank's annual portfolio, reflecting the diffusion of New Public Management concepts advocated by scholars like Kettl and Light within the field of American public administration.

This institutional determinism raises ethical questions about whose norms should be disseminated in the international development debate. Milner (2005) cites Rawls' arguments about distributive justice, questioning whether the international community should assist less fortunate countries and what types of assistance should be provided. This debate also reflects historical power dynamics, including criticisms of imperialism and the influence of colonial pasts on contemporary global politics.

Fred Riggs' study of administrative ecology in the US, Thailand, and the Philippines examines how diverse administrative structures are shaped by populations' histories and cultural legacies (Riggs 1961). He identifies economic, social, and symbolic factors influencing administration, highlighting the importance of historical and cultural contexts in shaping public institutions.

Development administration, like public administration, must navigate tensions between being an art and a science. While approaches like New Public Management emphasize a more scientific approach to public policy, politics remains an art that must be studied and understood within different institutional contexts, especially in foreign countries. Therefore, development administration can be viewed as a craft that, if adopted effectively, can lead to strong institutions capable of managing public issues (Riggs 1961).

Bibliography:

- Ganapati, Sukumar. (2004). The Idea of Development in the 21st Century. Working paper.

- Milner, Hellen. (2005). Globalization, Development, and International Institutions: Normative and Positive Perspectives.

- Riggs, Fred. (1961). The Ecology of Public Administration. New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Public Administration.