ABSTRACT
It is possible to imagine the modernization and reform of the public services and the civil service proceeding in a number of different directions (and possibly all at the same time). At the present time, it can be argued that three dimensions of the modernization process could be around the degree of focus on the performance of the public services, the relationship with the public that the public services serve, and the relative sizes of the state and civil society. Using the first two dimensions, we can imagine four future scenarios – not as predictions, but as possible futures (see Table 12.1). These are labelled:
1 Professional and authoritative 2 Professional and responsive 3 Streamlined and efficient 4 Strategic and enabling.
