The Evolution of Administrative Models in the Public Sector

This chapter examines the evolution of administrative models in the public sector, from Weberian bureaucracy to modern hybrid schemes. Bureaucracy is defined as a model that provided stability and legitimacy, but its rigidity led to the gradual emergence of modern administrative approaches such as New Public Management (NPM), which introduced private economic criteria and emphasized efficiency and effectiveness. Despite its innovative perspective, NPM was criticized for limiting its social and democratic dimension. Public governance emerged as a response, emphasizing cooperation, multi-level policymaking and the participation of citizens and stakeholders. Following this evolution, hybrid models such as the Neo-Weberian State, New Public Governance, New Public Service and the theory of Public Value attempt to combine elements of legitimacy, efficiency and social legitimation. The analysis demonstrates that administrative reform is not a linear process of model replacement, but a perpetual process of overlaps and adaptations.