Table of Contents

2001
 

Volume Six, Number 4

Single Articles
    

1. Organizational Reputation as a Source of Sustainable Competitive Advantage and Above-Normal Performance: An Empirical Test among Local Authorities in Israel
   Abraham Carmeli and Aaron Cohen

   A thin but important line needs to be drawn between a theory creating political reality and one describing political reality. This distinction is at the core of what continues to divide political theory: The question is whether political scientists should strive for theories that describe reality in the tradition of science, or should they attempt to develop theories that describe reality in terms of what ought to be changed or remain the same. Regardless of one’s side on this "is" versus "ought" issue, there are common concerns beyond constructing reality that must be addressed: namely, power, ethics, organizations, and context. Clearly, one lives by means of theories; therefore, we hope that this article gives all participants involved in the "is/ought" dialogue a better understanding of what a theory is, how it can be used, how it can be abused, and its impact on political analysis.
    

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2. Strange But True Tales From Hollywood: The Bureaucrat As Movie Hero
   Mordecai Lee and Susan C. Paddock

   Popular culture reflects the hostility to government and bureaucracy that is deeply embedded in American history, society and culture. Therefore, movies that depict evil government or villainous bureaucrats are relatively common. Are there any movies that defy this stereotype? As an exploratory research effort, the authors sought to identify any movies that depict admirable, even heroic, bureaucrats. Has the movie-going public ever seen a good public administrator? Using a wide variety of sources and exploratory research methodologies, the authors were able to identify 20 movies that presented positive characterizations of government managers. All were men and most were involved in a uniformed service. Notwithstanding the small number of bureaucratic heroes in movies, public administrationists can proudly identify themselves with these Hollywood crumbs. Faculty may wish to use these 20 movies as visual examples of the courage sometimes needed to be a moral and ethical public administrator. Finally, readers are invited to submit to the authors nominations of additional films that meet the criteria used in the article in order to enhance the ongoing comprehensiveness of the list.
    

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