Distinguishing risk in public administration: A conceptual framework

We live in an era marked by Black Swan events, making a clear conceptualization of risk essential for advancing public administration (PA) research. This study applies Aristotle’s rhetorical framework to analyze 302 articles from 40 PA journals, clarifying how risk is defined and suggesting future research directions. From the logos perspective, risk is framed objectively—primarily as the probability of adverse events—supporting studies on risk measurement and decision-making. The pathos perspective highlights the subjective dimension, emphasizing cognitive risk, risk culture, and perceptions of risk. The ethos perspective focuses on how risk is managed, defining it through unfavorable outcomes and pointing to new research avenues such as risk propensity and communication. By distinguishing these rhetorical lenses, this study not only reveals the multidimensional nature of risk in PA but also lays a foundation for more integrated and theoretically grounded risk research.