Developing public service motivation in the non-Western world

Abstract

The concept of public service motivation (PSM) was introduced more than three decades ago. Although the field continues to be dominated by research from the US and Western Europe, a growing number of studies utilise data from elsewhere, gradually expanding the geography of PSM. With this recent research, the field has started to answer the call of PSM’s founder (Perry, 2014) for more research into what he called “multi-incentive” settings, where the status of PSM is less clear due to historical and cultural factors. In the first systematic review of non-Western PSM scholarship, namely, research published outside the US, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand published in reputable English-language outlets, Van der Wal (2015) appraised the state of the art and proposed a research agenda. This agenda contained three key areas: (1) cultural values and societal disposition, (2) distribution and interplay between different types of motivators, and (3) relations between PSM, public service ethos, and institutions in developing political economies. In a recent follow up review, Mussagulova and Van der Wal (2021) noted a further extension and expansion of PSM scholarship across the globe. In particular, they reported that non-Western PSM scholarship is growing, and increasingly using contextual variables to explain variance in findings in comparison with Western studies. That being said, ample opportunity remains for leveraging contextual and regional particularities to build a more distinct body of scholarship. We acknowledge that the effort to promote regional and global perspectives on PSM is more than the sum of journal submissions. It is about working closely with scholars in non-Western institutions, encouraging research in under-represented contexts, building ongoing conversations among colleagues spanning institutional, geographical, and ideological boundaries. This is especially pertinent in the post-pandemic world that saw the emergence of new work modes, management challenges, budgetary restrictions, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). In the first special issue of Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration on public service motivation, published in September 2022 (V44.2), we featured articles that focused on the global relevance of the concept. This second special issue on public service motivation emphasises regional perspectives, It includes four articles addressing gaps in PSM scholarship drawing on a variety of perspectives, and exploring the empirical nature of PSM situated in China, Pakistan, Turkey, and Vietnam. Each article brings a unique perspective on PSM and goes beyond simply testing it in a different context. We note the emergence of two distinct themes in this special issue: the role of societal and religious values in shaping PSM, and the relationship of PSM with other important variables that yield useful public management lessons. Both themes are important, timely, ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 2023, VOL. 45, NO. 3, 244–247 https://doi.org/10.1080/23276665.2023.2237619