Beyond A Government Of Strangers ─ How Career Executives And Political Appointees Can Turn Conflict To Cooperation

Maranto (political science and public administration, Villanova U.) takes a hard look at those who tend to receive the least attention in politics, namely those who stick around for the long haul. Maranto focuses on careerists, particularly those in the executive branch of the US federal government, and how they can improve transitions from one administration to the next by dealing effectively with political appointees. He examines the reality and value of such appointees and gives ways to orient them effectively, reduce conflict and keep bad ideas from becoming presidential policy without more turmoil than absolutely necessary and in essence inevitable. He includes a model orientation curriculum by John Martino and guidelines for loyal dissent by John H. Johns. Annotation c2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Robert Maranto teaches political science and public administration at Villanova University. He formerly served as senior faculty member at the Federal Executive Institute. Maranto has done extensive research on political appointees in government, civil service reform, and education reform (particularly charter schools). His most recent book isRadical Reform of the Civil Service (with Steven Condrey, Lexington Books, 2001).