Distinctiveness in the Study of Public Management in Europe. A Historical-institutional Analysis of France, Germany and Italy

This paper presents three clear examples of distinctive approaches to the study of public management, that is, in France, Germany and Italy, three countries with peculiar legalistic state traditions. Per country first a historical sketch of state and administration is given, then the administrative (public management) reforms are described, subsequently the state of art of administrative sciences, and finally the specificness of the study of public management. The historical-institutional context of a particular state and administration apparently does influence not only the form and content of the administrative ‘public management’ reforms but also the scientific study of public management in that country.