Beyond service : state workers, public policy, and the prospects for democratic administration / Greg McElligott.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Pt. 1. The View from the Front Line. 1. 'Appearing to Be in Control'. 2. Class and Management in the Canadian State. 3. Beyond Reason: The New Legitimation -- Pt. 2. Border Disputes. 4. External Pressures, Internal Needs. 5. Bargaining and Beyond. 6. Clients and Consciousness. 7. Front-Line Workers and Public Policy -- Pt. 3. Self-Management and Citizenship. 8. State Workers and Democratic Administration. Conclusion: Bringing State Workers In.

"This study concerns one department of Canadian government - Employment and Immigration Canada (EIC) - and one policy field - labour market policy - from 1976 to 1991. McElligott unearths resistance in workplaces where 'cutting edge' neoconservative managers have been trying to reshape government services, and inserts front-line workers into state theories, policy debates, and progressive political strategies.

He argues that the neglect of these workers makes key state theories incomplete and separates policy-making theory - and practice - from actual state outputs. One consequence is that progressive thinkers and activists have forgone many promising strategic opportunities.".

"Beyond Service challenges current trends in administrative theory and policy-making, and will be of interest to academics, policy research bodies, union researchers, educators, and, most important, front-line government workers themselves."--BOOK JACKET.