Statement of Purpose 

Statement of Purpose  - South Asian Section for Public Administration (SASPA)

 

South Asia is a term used to represent the southern region of the Asian continent, comprising of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The population of South Asia is about 1.891 billion or about one fourth of the world's population, making it both the most populous and the most densely populated geographical region in the world. Overall, it accounts for about 40% of Asia's population, over 24% of the world's population, and is home to a diverse society. In the recent past, the field of Public Administration in the United States has seen a rising number of students and scholars studying administrative and policy issues of South Asia. Hence, validating a need for a formal platform to bring together scholars of South Asian Public Administration in the United States.

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The unique purpose of the South Asian Section for Public Administration will be to take the activities and networks of ASPA National to the South Asian region, while simultaneously allowing for South Asian scholars and practitioners to get involved in ASPA activities in the United States. The idea is to ultimately build a free-flowing professional network of scholars and practitioners in South Asia and scholars and practitioners in the United States interested in South Asian public administration. 

 

The primary objectives of the section on South Asian Public Administration are:

 

1. To advance research and study on public administration and policy in South Asia, and promote the international and comparative analysis of the administrative systems from the region. 

2. To provide a platform for networking of scholars and practitioners interested in the issues and policies in South Asia and encourage collaborative research between South Asian scholars and their international counterparts.

3. Promote global and comparative perspectives by increasing the awareness and understanding of the factors affecting policy and administration in South Asia.

4. To promote the goals and activities of ASPA in the South Asian region and facilitate the cooperation between universities in South Asia and in the United States.

 

The Section for South Asian Public Administration will also strive to achieve these secondary objectives:

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1. Encourage member participation in international, national and regional conferences, including organizing and conducting panels and workshops on South Asian public administration and publishing proceedings.

2. Encourage and support activities and programs on South Asian Public Administration.

3. Publish a journal, newsletter and other publications periodically to disseminate and exchange information on activities and research opportunities in South Asian public administration to the section membership.

4. Establish liaison with professional organizations and schools of South Asian public administration through the consideration of common purposes and problems.

5. Encourage schools of public affairs and administration to develop appropriate academic requirement and courses in the cooperative programs with South Asian universities in order to equip future public managers and administrators with the skills required for job performance and accountability.