Citation

Stivers C. Am. Rev. Public Admin. 2005; 35(1): 26-41.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0275074004271665

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Public administration has regularly reached across the divide between public and private to import ideas and practices from private business, yet ideas of home rarely make their way into administrative theory. Inspired by the "city as a home" thinking of progressive-era social reformers, this article explores conceptual barriers and generative possibilities. It suggests, first, that home vivifies aspects of administration that foster caring concern for human development. Second, drawing on the work of Hannah Arendt, it argues that despite Arendt's dim view of the household, an ontology of home furthers her vision of action--public spirited speech--in administrative practice.