ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the development of administrative history, what it is, why it is scientifically interesting, and how it has practical applications. Administrative history is indispensable to administrative science research as well as the training of (future) civil servants and politicians. Given the contemporary challenges governments face it is all the more important to acquire an understanding of how government developed and what limits that development places upon reform. Administrative history is an exciting venture in itself, but gains meaning when we realize how "path-dependent" reform proposals can be. Administration is of all times, but it did not receive separate attention until the early modern era (1600s). The relationship between ruler and people had received more attention. Lynton K. Caldwell describes the focus of administrative history as the study of the origins or evolution of administrative ideas, institutions and practices (1955: 455). This definition contains both descriptive as well as normative issues, but it is incomplete and not entirely clear.
