Debate : New public management and professionals in the public sector. What new patterns beyond opposition ? - P. Bezes et al.

Philippe Bezes, CNRS-CERSA, 10, rue Thénard, 75005 Paris, France

Didier Demazière, CNRS-Sciences Po, UMR 7116, centre de sociologie des organisations, 19, rue Amélie, 75007 Paris, France

Thomas Le Bianic, IRISSO, UMR CNRS 7170, université Paris Dauphine, place du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, 75775 Paris cedex 16, France

Catherine Paradeise, LATTS-IFRIS, université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée, bâtiment Bois-de-l’Étang C215, cité Descartes, 77420 Champs-sur-Marne, France

Romuald Normand, EHESS-UMR CNRS 8178, groupe de sociologie politique et morale, institut Marcel-Mauss, 10, rue Monsieur-Le-Prince, 75006 Paris, France

Daniel Benamouzig, CNRS-Sciences Po, UMR 7116, centre de sociologie des organisations, 19, rue Amélie, 75007 Paris, France

Frédéric Pierruc, IRISSO, UMR CNRS 7170, université Paris Dauphine, place du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, 75775 Paris cedex 16, France

Julia Evetts, School of sociology and social policy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, Royaume-Uni

Abstract
The proliferation of reforms in public administration based on the principles and instruments of the “New Public Management” (NPM) have triggered protest from and collective action by many professional groups in various sectors (healthcare, education, justice, social work, research…) and raised questions about the future of professionals working in the public service, particularly as concerns their autonomy. However, after analyzing the situation, it seems that the opposition between NPM and certain professional groups is not the last word in the debate. Should changes be seen as the decline of professional groups and of their autonomy or as a transformation of professional models, an overhaul of professionalism, etc.? Such questions, which current events in France and Europe have brought to the fore, are food for ongoing sociological thought. They are broached here empirically, from the field, applying varied levels of analysis and research. The contributors to this dossier explore the different forms of tension existing between professional groups and NPM.

Keywords : New public management ; Professional groups ; Professions ; Occupational autonomy ; Reform of the public administration ; Professional bureaucracies ; Professionalism ; France

Article Outline

• 1. Introduction (Philippe Bezes, Didier Demazière)
• 2. Professional bureaucracies confronted by New Public Management : decline or regeneration ? (Thomas Le Bianic)
• 3. The Academic profession in the clutches of New Public Management : the French case (Catherine Paradeise)
• 4. The teaching profession put to the test of New Public Management : the Third Way reform (Romuald Normand)
• 5. Professionals and the “System” : the institutional integration of the medical world (Daniel Benamouzig, Frédéric Pierru)
• 6. New professionalism and New Public Management : changes and continuities (Julia Evetts)
• References

Sociologie du Travail
Volume 54, Supplement 1, August 2012
Translated by Gabrielle Varro