The ecological approach in Comparative Public Administration explains administration in relation to its social, economic, political, cultural and environmental surroundings. It emphasizes that administrative institutions cannot be understood in isolation because their functioning is strongly influenced by the society in which they operate. The approach became particularly significant in the study of developing countries, where administrative structures often differed considerably from those of Western countries despite having similar formal institutions. The ecological approach is closely associated with Fred W. Riggs, who developed an influential framework for comparing administrative systems. Riggs argued that administration is a product of its environment and that administrative structures and behaviour change according to ecological conditions. He criticized the traditional approach for focusing mainly on formal structures, rules and organizational charts without examining the social context in