ABSTRACT
The main purpose of this book has been to set out as clearly as possible in the limited space available the different theories that are most frequently referred to in the literature of social administration or implicitly assumed in what is written. It is hoped that students will be given some basis for judging the soundness of what is said through an understanding of the implicit and explicit assumptions that underlie the theories and the sort of criticisms that have been made of them. This chapter is intended to summarise some of the central issues in a way that will enable the student to move forward with more confidence and a bit less confusion.
