Book Review: Edoardo Ongaro, Giovanni Orsina & Lorenzo Castellani (eds.), The Humanities and Public Administration. An Introduction, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2025

Abstract

Somewhat paradoxically, the volume edited by Ongaro, Orsina and Castellani appears at exactly the right moment: while the contemporary world is absorbed with technical and operational solutions (e.g., how to integrate AI into…), this book addresses a more strategic concern: how do we define what truly matters? From the authors’ perspective (which I fully share), the solution is not merely operational. It requires a deeper understanding of the domains, concepts and strategic paradigms we inhabit. It is almost impossible to respond effectively to challenges we do not fully understand.