Dysfunction by Design: Trumpism as Administrative Doctrine

Forthcoming in Public Administration Review, 2021

19 Pages Posted: 11 Dec 2020 Last revised: 22 Dec 2020

See all articles by Donald Moynihan

Donald Moynihan

Georgetown University - McCourt School of Public Policy

Alasdair S. Roberts

University of Massachusetts Amherst - School of Public Policy

Date Written: December 18, 2020

Abstract

The administration of President Donald Trump caused widespread damage to administrative capabilities of the American federal government. Actions of the administration can be attributed to several causes, including character weaknesses of the President himself, the disadvantages of a political insurgent, and the challenges faced by every president in an era of divided government. The actions of the administration also reflect a governing strategy we categorize as Trumpism. Important elements of Trumpism will continue to have political force in coming years. Attempts by the Biden administration to restore administrative capabilities will be constrained by these political realities.

Keywords: Trumpism, populism, administrative reform, strategy, governance

Suggested Citation

Moynihan, Donald and Roberts, Alasdair S., Dysfunction by Design: Trumpism as Administrative Doctrine (December 18, 2020). Forthcoming in Public Administration Review, 2021, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3740765 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3740765

Donald Moynihan

Georgetown University - McCourt School of Public Policy

Alasdair S. Roberts (Contact Author)

University of Massachusetts Amherst - School of Public Policy ( email )

Thompson Hall
Amherst, MA 01003
United States
6175999029 (Phone)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
276
Abstract Views
1,309
Rank
201,600
PlumX Metrics