Balancing Instrumental and Value Rationality in Public Administration: A Literature Review of Governance Rationales

This paper critically reviews the conceptual tension and practical interaction between instrumental and value rationality in public administration. Drawing from foundational and recent literature, it explores how governance models such as Traditional Public Administration, New Public Management (NPM), and New Public Administration (NPA) emphasize either calculative efficiency or ethical responsibility. The review demonstrates that while instrumental rationality enhances control and output-based decision-making, value rationality anchors governance in democratic legitimacy and public trust. The paper evaluates paradigmatic shifts, hybrid governance strategies, and real-world cases—including post-pandemic administration and AI governance—to show how integrated approaches to rationality are not only possible but necessary. It concludes that public institutions must embrace reflexive and plural rationality models to navigate complex policy environments ethically and effectively.

کلیدواژه ها:

Public Administration ، Instrumental Rationality ، Value Rationality ، Governance ، New Public Management ، Administrative Ethics ، Decision-Making ، Bureaucracy