Abstract
This research note addresses a gap in the public administration literature by arguing that a political Darwinism was present in the intellectual origins of American administrative theory. By examining the arguments of Woodrow Wilson, this article demonstrates that Darwinism complemented the German political thought that contributed to the establishment of America's administrative state. The application of Darwinian evolutionary biology to politics was a vital element of Wilson's reconceptualization of the state as a living organism. Darwinism was a key rhetorical tool employed by Wilson in his argument against the Constitution's separation of powers. This note finds that Darwinism was present in the early stages of public administration theory in Wilson's argumentation and persists today in the public administration literature. It concludes by sketching out an agenda for further research on Darwinism's influence on public administration.
Highlights
Woodrow Wilson and the Darwinian argument for administrationWoodrow Wilson often employed Darwinian theories in his political writing and rhetoric to argue for an administrative state
This research note addresses a gap in the public administration literature by arguing that a political Darwinism was present in the intellectual origins of American administrative theory
A full account of the intellectual origins of public administration in the United States should include the role of Darwinism
Summary
Woodrow Wilson often employed Darwinian theories in his political writing and rhetoric to argue for an administrative state. Engaging in a close reading of Wilson’s essential political writings and speeches, one finds that Darwinism was present in his political and administrative thought, especially in his political rhetoric In his 1912 presidential campaign, as reflected in The New Freedom, Wilson (1913/2005b) often employed the line that government “is accountable to Darwin” Once Congress has enacted a law, administrators are to be left independent of congressional and public interference as they have the discretion to choose whatever means they deem appropriate to implement a policy This is a form of organic cooperation between different bodies with different tasks, and an elevation of administrators, chosen for their scientific expertise, over the political bodies. For Wilson, efficient administration is a natural development and a necessary means for the unification of the national government through the executive branch to transform the state from a Newtonian model to a Darwinian organism. The Darwinian metaphor was both part of Wilson’s argument to jettison the separation of powers and an example of how Wilson practiced popular rhetoric in his attempt to produce a unified government in rejection of the separation of powers
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