Ubiquitous Anomie: Reflections and Rejoinder

Abstract

Obviously, such an ethical posture strips the field of public administration of its central ethical precept, that the public service is different from the pursuit of private interests. And, under such circumstances, normlessness or anomie can be expected in the public service. What is required to return a proper sense of dignity and worth to the public service is not a lessening of ideological conflict, but a clarification of the meaning of the public service. Such a clarification implies something very much needed in American society--a reassertion of moral leadership in the public service. Happily, signs are that such an effort is occurring. The work of the American Society for Public Administration through its National Campaign for the Public Service, the National Commission on Public Service (the Volcker Commission), and other groups underlines the importance of ethics in the public service as a prelude to restored confidence in the public service. With continued efforts to restore a sense of integrity to the field of public administration, Americans can and should feel much more optimistic about the future of the public service.