The Discourse Heresies

Abstract

Scholars of public administration theory have been debating the merits of democratic administration and nascent forms of discourse for quite some time. Rather than coming to some synthesis, the discussion seems to be diverging into two competing factions, one that advocates egalitarian discussion for its own sake and the other that seeks to use discourse as a means to question the old view of “bureaucracy” and replace it with a consensus that leads to substantive results. This study provides a statistical analysis of discursive behavior in local military base redevelopment efforts, an example of interlocal cooperation, in support of the notion that discourse can facilitate tangible policy outcomes. Rather than attempting to subvert the synergistic spirit of discourse with “rationality,” this analysis simultaneously illustrates both the benefits and limitations of measurement.