The emergence of CPA in the mid-20th century was driven by a mix of global political changes, academic movements, and practical development needs.

Comparative Public Administration, was initially started by Woodrow Wilson in his seminal essay -'the study of Administration 1887'.

Although the practice of learning from others in administration is very old but systematic study of CPA is a recent phenomenon.

CPA meant the study of P.A in cross cultural, cross national & cross temporal ways, to make study more holistic. The formal CPA emergence with force it traced from issue with formation of Comparative Admin forum group under chairmanship of Flie Riggs