Margaret Stout
Biographic Data
| ID | 4128075 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Margaret Stout |
| GIVEN NAMES | Margaret |
| FAMILY NAME | Stout |
| SIGNATURE | STOUT M |
| AFFILIATIONS | West Virginia University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7254-4934 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 42 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 97 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 42 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
Getting out of the way for radical community development
Should we standardize community development professional degrees
Communities as the nexus of Public Service praxis
Disempowerment versus empowerment
Using a dimensions of power framework that integrates the theoretical work of Gaventa, Giddens, and Young, this paper unpacks the meanings of self-efficacy, solidarity, and agency in relation to different forms of power. These definitions: (1) reaffirm radical understandings of empowerment as an internal process for both individuals and groups, as well as a function of enabling institutional and societal structures, and (2) enable critical examin…
Exposing and dismantling White culture in public administration
This paper examines the ways dominant White culture shapes the foundational assumptions within U.S. public administration, and how these embed oppressive power dynamics within the field are impeding effectively addressing racial inequities. Toward that end, we offer a primer on White culture as a specific form of dominance culture with unique assumptions, values, power dynamics, institutional structures, and procedures. We argue that this hegemon…
In search of a common core in community development professional degrees
This brief essay offers background on the issues facing community development as a professional degree. The essay highlights the need for comprehension and consensus around core competencies, shared values, and standards to guide the design and assessment of academic community development programs. The essay includes summaries on theoretical canon, pedagogies, and the fragmented state of community development as an educational field. In particula…
Transforming power dynamics through prefigurative public administration
This is the introduction to a symposium which addresses the essential task of transforming power dynamics in public administration. The articles in this symposium each consider different sources of inspiration for resisting and disrupting systems of oppression while co-creating and sustaining counter-institutions that foster equity and justice. The authors look to social movements for instances of transformational praxis to inform the field of pu…
Examining natural resource management through a community development theoretical lens
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a government agency that seeks to integrate conservation goals with farmers' economic goals through voluntary private efforts, particularly through its Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) program. Researchers note a lack of theoretical grounding in the associated body of literature. Therefore, a comprehensive theory of change was developed to g…
What Sets Physically Active Rural Communities Apart from Less Active Ones? A Comparative Case Study of Three US Counties
Multi-organizational PA coalitions may hold promise for rural PA by directly influencing Human and Organizational Capital in the short term and the other forms of capital in the long term
Competing Ontologies
Over the last decade, a growing number of public administration theorists have taken up the question of how ontology—assumptions about the nature of existence—shapes our understanding of governance. This substantially updated primer, originally published in Public Administration Review, introduces the essay, provides a basic explanation of ontology, describes the fundamental debates in philosophies of ontology, and discusses why ontology is impor…
Community development as prefigurative, radically democratic global governance
This article explores the networks, coalitions, and organizations of the farmer-to-farmer movement to illustrate a recently proposed ideal-type called Integrative Governance. Collaborating movement members include smallholder farmers, farmers unions and associations, government agricultural extension agents, and NGO staff and volunteers who play a variety of personal, professional, and movement roles. In the analysis, we provide a brief synopsis …
From Austerity to Abundance?
This volume explores the ways in which civil society andgovernments employ transformative tactics of direct engagement in coordinatingefforts toward the common good. The chapters highlight alternatives that arephilosophically and pragmatically different from neoliberal austerity measures, which reduce coproduction to a cost-saving tactic. Instead of simplisticload-shedding and unfunded partnerships, collaborative governance andcoproduction increa…
Integrative Governance
Administrative theory
When the State Meets the Street
Bernardo Zacka seeks to offer a fresh look at the well-traveled path of street level bureaucracy from the vantage point of an administrator behind the reception desk of an antipoverty social servic
From Austerity to Abundance
A Radically Democratic Response to Global Governance
This book presents a critique of dominant governance theories grounded in an understanding of existence as a static, discrete, mechanistic process, while also identifying the failures of theories that assume dynamic alternatives of either a radically collectivist or individualist nature. Relationships between ontology and governance practices are established, drawing upon a wide range of social, political, and administrative theory. Employing the…
Remembering Kym Thorne (and Alexander Kouzmin)
If I could capture in a sentence the purpose of Kym Thorne’s body of work, I would have to say that he sought to keep ever in our sights the manner in which public administration is complicit in st
Governing Small‐Town America Today
This essay examines the governance of small towns in the United States. Small towns have received little attention in the public administration literature to date, yet 1 in 10 Americans still lives in one, representing roughly 75 percent of all municipalities in the United States and some 33 million people. Small towns are characterized as dense, multiplex networks that lend unique dynamics to local politics. However, they face significant social…
Universalism of the Void as Lack
Additional informationNotes on contributorsMargaret Stout is an assistant professor of public administration at West Virginia University. Following her first career as a practitioner, she continues a passion for community development through service learning and action research projects as a faculty member. Her research explores the role of public and nonprofit practitioners in achieving democratic social and economic justice with specific intere…
Integrative Governance
Public encounters, the micro-level relational process of face-to-face contact between public professionals and community members, are argued to have a meaningful effect on the outcomes of governance activities. In turn, the specific characteristics of these encounters are constrained by institutionalized macro-level structures, yet the variety of contexts and associated relational styles have not been carefully explored. Therefore, in this articl…
Relational Process Ontology
This article presents a Governance Typology comprising philosophical and practical theoretical elements which compose four ideal-types found in dominant Western political theory, what we label Institutional, Holographic, Atomistic, and Fragmented governance types. Then a fifth synthesis type is articulated, Integrative Governance, which is based on relational process ontology derived from alternative sources. The article then makes the argument t…
Democratic Justice and the Social Contract
Reframing Workplace Spirituality to Reduce Career and Social Costs to Women
Women tend to sacrifice career, family life, or both in ways men do not. Studies have shown repeatedly that these career and social costs are higher for women than men. This article argues that career and social costs only exist because workplace policies and practices are based on values that are grounded in beliefs derived from scientific, religious, and spiritual sources. The authors employ three ontological ideal-types to examine workplace po…
Community development and public administration theory
Integrative Governance
Public encounters, the micro-level relational process of face-to-face contact between public professionals and community members, are argued to have a meaningful effect on the outcomes of governance activities. In turn, the specific characteristics of these encounters are constrained by institutionalized macro-level structures, yet the variety of contexts and associated relational styles have not been carefully explored. Therefore, in this articl…
Examining natural resource management through a community development theoretical lens
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is a government agency that seeks to integrate conservation goals with farmers' economic goals through voluntary private efforts, particularly through its Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) program. Researchers note a lack of theoretical grounding in the associated body of literature. Therefore, a comprehensive theory of change was developed to g…
The Ontology of Process Philosophy in Follett's Administrative Theory
The importance of ontology to social theory is emerging in a variety of fields associated with political theory, including public administration. This article explores the ontological underpinnings of Follett's theory of governance, including both political and administrative theory. The observation of similarities between Follett's concepts and those of Whitehead's process philosophy led to the discovery that they were indeed contemporaries who …
Revisiting the (Lost) Art of Ideal-Typing in Public Administration
Despite a renewed interest in Max Weber's work in public administration literature, there has been little discussion of his ideal-type method as a useful tool for contemporary theory building and subsequent research. The article challenges the field to revisit the art of ideal-typing as an important methodology when applied accurately, distinguishing ideal-typing from other forms of classification. It revisits Weber's original (translated) essays…
Refusing Ontological Colonization
Back to the Future
This article presents a reconceptualization of public administration within a profoundly different political economy. The depiction is based on an alternative set of assumptions to those most typically held about human nature and the corollary approach to political and economic life. Ideas are drawn from two sets of scholars, each writing respectively at the turn of the last two centuries. As both historical periods are marked by claims of progre…
Community development as prefigurative, radically democratic global governance
This article explores the networks, coalitions, and organizations of the farmer-to-farmer movement to illustrate a recently proposed ideal-type called Integrative Governance. Collaborating movement members include smallholder farmers, farmers unions and associations, government agricultural extension agents, and NGO staff and volunteers who play a variety of personal, professional, and movement roles. In the analysis, we provide a brief synopsis …
A Samurai's Lineage
This reflective essay was inspired by a question posed at the December 2005 Emergent Public Administration Scholar conference in Dallas, Texas: "What does it mean to be Public Administration?" Here, I answer this question by exploring the meaning of Samurai as public servant and the importance of lineage in martial arts as an analogy for traditions in public administration theory. In so doing, I challenge the current use of the terms traditional …
Transforming power dynamics through prefigurative public administration
This is the introduction to a symposium which addresses the essential task of transforming power dynamics in public administration. The articles in this symposium each consider different sources of inspiration for resisting and disrupting systems of oppression while co-creating and sustaining counter-institutions that foster equity and justice. The authors look to social movements for instances of transformational praxis to inform the field of pu…
Disempowerment versus empowerment
Using a dimensions of power framework that integrates the theoretical work of Gaventa, Giddens, and Young, this paper unpacks the meanings of self-efficacy, solidarity, and agency in relation to different forms of power. These definitions: (1) reaffirm radical understandings of empowerment as an internal process for both individuals and groups, as well as a function of enabling institutional and societal structures, and (2) enable critical examin…
Exposing and dismantling White culture in public administration
This paper examines the ways dominant White culture shapes the foundational assumptions within U.S. public administration, and how these embed oppressive power dynamics within the field are impeding effectively addressing racial inequities. Toward that end, we offer a primer on White culture as a specific form of dominance culture with unique assumptions, values, power dynamics, institutional structures, and procedures. We argue that this hegemon…
In search of a common core in community development professional degrees
This brief essay offers background on the issues facing community development as a professional degree. The essay highlights the need for comprehension and consensus around core competencies, shared values, and standards to guide the design and assessment of academic community development programs. The essay includes summaries on theoretical canon, pedagogies, and the fragmented state of community development as an educational field. In particula…
Relational Process Ontology
This article presents a Governance Typology comprising philosophical and practical theoretical elements which compose four ideal-types found in dominant Western political theory, what we label Institutional, Holographic, Atomistic, and Fragmented governance types. Then a fifth synthesis type is articulated, Integrative Governance, which is based on relational process ontology derived from alternative sources. The article then makes the argument t…
Reframing Workplace Spirituality to Reduce Career and Social Costs to Women
Women tend to sacrifice career, family life, or both in ways men do not. Studies have shown repeatedly that these career and social costs are higher for women than men. This article argues that career and social costs only exist because workplace policies and practices are based on values that are grounded in beliefs derived from scientific, religious, and spiritual sources. The authors employ three ontological ideal-types to examine workplace po…
Portraits of Politicians, Administrators, and Citizens
Getting out of the way for radical community development
Communities as the nexus of Public Service praxis
Toward a Relational Language of Process
Following theories that language shapes consciousness and identity and therefore prefigures all forms of social relationship, this article argues that the static, discrete, hierarchical language of bureaucracy and positivist science does not serve well to explain process-oriented concepts of collaboration or to guide participatory practice. To become fully process oriented—to support a collaborative participatory process of inclusive, egalitarian…
Competing Ontologies
Over the last decade, a growing number of public administration theorists have taken up the question of how ontology—assumptions about the nature of existence—shapes our understanding of governance. This substantially updated primer, originally published in Public Administration Review, introduces the essay, provides a basic explanation of ontology, describes the fundamental debates in philosophies of ontology, and discusses why ontology is impor…
Symposium Introduction
In Remembrance of Fred Thayer
(2007). In Remembrance of Fred Thayer. Administrative Theory & Praxis: Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 465-469
A Samurai's Lineage
This reflective essay was inspired by a question posed at the December 2005 Emergent Public Administration Scholar conference in Dallas, Texas: "What does it mean to be Public Administration?" Here, I answer this question by exploring the meaning of Samurai as public servant and the importance of lineage in martial arts as an analogy for traditions in public administration theory. In so doing, I challenge the current use of the terms traditional …
In Remembrance of Fred Thayer
(2007). In Remembrance of Fred Thayer. Administrative Theory & Praxis: Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 465-469
ATP Intergenerational Symposium Response from Margaret Stout
"Reflections from a "Minnow
Reflections on a Themeless Conference
Settlement Women Are Alive and Well in Community Development
Revisiting the (Lost) Art of Ideal-Typing in Public Administration
Despite a renewed interest in Max Weber's work in public administration literature, there has been little discussion of his ideal-type method as a useful tool for contemporary theory building and subsequent research. The article challenges the field to revisit the art of ideal-typing as an important methodology when applied accurately, distinguishing ideal-typing from other forms of classification. It revisits Weber's original (translated) essays…
Back to the Future
This article presents a reconceptualization of public administration within a profoundly different political economy. The depiction is based on an alternative set of assumptions to those most typically held about human nature and the corollary approach to political and economic life. Ideas are drawn from two sets of scholars, each writing respectively at the turn of the last two centuries. As both historical periods are marked by claims of progre…
Refusing Ontological Colonization
The Ontology of Process Philosophy in Follett's Administrative Theory
The importance of ontology to social theory is emerging in a variety of fields associated with political theory, including public administration. This article explores the ontological underpinnings of Follett's theory of governance, including both political and administrative theory. The observation of similarities between Follett's concepts and those of Whitehead's process philosophy led to the discovery that they were indeed contemporaries who …
Portraits of Politicians, Administrators, and Citizens
In Search of a Holistic Public Policy Theory Primer
In Exploration of Foundational Political Philosophy
Symposium Introduction
Toward a Relational Language of Process
Following theories that language shapes consciousness and identity and therefore prefigures all forms of social relationship, this article argues that the static, discrete, hierarchical language of bureaucracy and positivist science does not serve well to explain process-oriented concepts of collaboration or to guide participatory practice. To become fully process oriented—to support a collaborative participatory process of inclusive, egalitarian…
Competing Ontologies
A growing number of public administration theorists are taking up the question of ontology—the nature of existence. This primer on the topic provides a basic explanation of ontology, describes the fundamental debates in the competing ontologies of Western philosophy, and discusses why ontology is important to social and political theory, as well as to public administration theory and practice. Using an ideal‐type approach, the author analyzes how…
Fraternity, Solidarity, and Unity
(2014). Fraternity, Solidarity, and Unity. Administrative Theory & Praxis: Vol. 36, No. 3, pp. 421-429
Universalism of the Void as Lack
Additional informationNotes on contributorsMargaret Stout is an assistant professor of public administration at West Virginia University. Following her first career as a practitioner, she continues a passion for community development through service learning and action research projects as a faculty member. Her research explores the role of public and nonprofit practitioners in achieving democratic social and economic justice with specific intere…
Integrative Governance
Public encounters, the micro-level relational process of face-to-face contact between public professionals and community members, are argued to have a meaningful effect on the outcomes of governance activities. In turn, the specific characteristics of these encounters are constrained by institutionalized macro-level structures, yet the variety of contexts and associated relational styles have not been carefully explored. Therefore, in this articl…
Relational Process Ontology
This article presents a Governance Typology comprising philosophical and practical theoretical elements which compose four ideal-types found in dominant Western political theory, what we label Institutional, Holographic, Atomistic, and Fragmented governance types. Then a fifth synthesis type is articulated, Integrative Governance, which is based on relational process ontology derived from alternative sources. The article then makes the argument t…
Democratic Justice and the Social Contract
Reframing Workplace Spirituality to Reduce Career and Social Costs to Women
Women tend to sacrifice career, family life, or both in ways men do not. Studies have shown repeatedly that these career and social costs are higher for women than men. This article argues that career and social costs only exist because workplace policies and practices are based on values that are grounded in beliefs derived from scientific, religious, and spiritual sources. The authors employ three ontological ideal-types to examine workplace po…
A Radically Democratic Response to Global Governance
This book presents a critique of dominant governance theories grounded in an understanding of existence as a static, discrete, mechanistic process, while also identifying the failures of theories that assume dynamic alternatives of either a radically collectivist or individualist nature. Relationships between ontology and governance practices are established, drawing upon a wide range of social, political, and administrative theory. Employing the…
Remembering Kym Thorne (and Alexander Kouzmin)
If I could capture in a sentence the purpose of Kym Thorne’s body of work, I would have to say that he sought to keep ever in our sights the manner in which public administration is complicit in st
Governing Small‐Town America Today
This essay examines the governance of small towns in the United States. Small towns have received little attention in the public administration literature to date, yet 1 in 10 Americans still lives in one, representing roughly 75 percent of all municipalities in the United States and some 33 million people. Small towns are characterized as dense, multiplex networks that lend unique dynamics to local politics. However, they face significant social…
Political science (38 works) · Sociology (32 works) · Law (23 works) · Law (21 works) · Politics (19 works) · Public Administration (16 works) · Public Administration (14 works) · Economics (13 works) · Public relations (13 works) · Public Policy and Administration Research (12 works)