Urban Studies and the Community: A Multi-Paradigmatic Framework for Public Service

This article examines the paradigmatic foundations of public service in the university. Current public service, it argues, is fragmented and ineffective because it has recognized neither the diversity of paradigms nor their potential synergism in guiding public service. The article notes the necessity of theory building in guiding public service. It develops a framework for analyzing paradigms, understanding their interrelationships and their utility for public service, especially in the urban university.