ABSTRACT
Widespread concern exists about public cynicism toward government (Gore 1994; Dubnick and Rosenbloom 1995; Greider 1992; Lipset and Schneider 1987; Ruscio 1995; Cisneros and Parr 1990). Manifestations of public cynicism include pervasive beliefs that government policies and public officials are corrupt, inept, or out to take advantage of citizens (Johnson 1993). Such disillusionment causes alienation and disengagement and is therefore of key interest to public administration and processes of democratic governance. Yet, little is written about the role of public administrators in shaping public attitudes. Much of what is written focuses on typologies of citizen roles (Frederickson 1991; Luton 1993) and administrative processes for managing citizen involvement (Stivers 1994; Thomas 1993; Box 1992).
