Public administration in the Global South: Some clues to its contradictory richness and the limits of prescriptions from the north

This chapter critically examines the impact of Global North-originated theories on public administration in the Global South. While acknowledging the undeniable value of these concepts, the study challenges their often hegemonic and presumptuous application, emphasizing the diversity and complexity of southern political and administrative cultures shaped by historical colonization. The chapter disputes the prevalent notion that institutions in the Global South are incomplete analogs to northern counterparts, questioning the efficacy of rationalist approaches in transforming southern systems. It critiques the persistent prescription of depoliticization in public administration, advocating for an acknowledgment of the inherent political nature of administrative processes and decisions. The chapter explores power dynamics and conflict resolution in the Global South. It advocates for a nuanced understanding of the political and administrative logic prevalent in those countries. To illustrate the need for a paradigm shift, the chapter delves into favor-exchange practices in the Global South, highlighting cases like “palanca” and “jeitinho.” These informal social mechanisms play a crucial role in navigating political and organizational relationships and are deemed essential for a comprehensive understanding of public administration in the Global South. The study urges a reevaluation of the Global North prescriptions in these diverse and dynamic contexts.