In the course of the last century fundamental changes occurred in the relationship between public administration and politics. This book describes in which ways and to what extent the public administration discipline aims to shape this fundamental relation by analyzing the paradigmatic foundations of the discipline. The various paradigms adopted by different groups in the public administration discipline at different points in time determine for a large part the nature of problems to be tackled and the solution procedures that may be considered. Therefore, a clear insight into the foundations underlying the relationship between public administration and politics not only facilitates the study of the public administration discipline and political science, but also contributes to a better understanding of the practice of public administration.