The Democratization and Development Agenda and the African Civil Service: Issues Resolved or Matters Arising?

2002 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 533-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Balogun
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Policy Outcomes ◽  
Service Needs ◽  
Economic Management ◽  
Policy Interventions ◽  
Development Agenda ◽  
The People ◽  
The Social

For far too long, public administration has played second fiddle to economics in confronting the challenges of governance and development in Africa. Whether it is in the design of ‘good governance’ programmes, the reform of economic management policies or the renewal of institutions, it is economics that defines the issues and proffers the solutions. Yet economic prescriptions prove inadequate if the aim is to empower the people to make input into decisions on how they are governed and to influence policy outcomes in ways corresponding to their own notion of the ‘good life’. This article focuses on how public administration could, through its integration of the analytical competencies of the social sciences, promote that critical stance that the civil service needs to challenge the assumptions underlying public choice and to render meaningful advice on policy interventions.

THE TRANSITION FROM LOGICAL POSITIVISM TO PHENOMENOLOGY IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES: POLITICAL ASPECTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 81-95
Author(s):  
A.A. KOVALEV ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Social Problems ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
The State ◽  
Logical Positivism ◽  
Phenomenological Method ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
The Social

The purpose of this study is to study the research potential of the phenomenological approach in the social sciences, which emerged in the first half of the XX century as a critique of the dominant method of logical positivism at that time. The following scientific approaches and methods were used in the article: the method of analysis, description and comparison, as well as the phenomenological approach. The author has made an attempt to prove the significance of phenomenology in the social sciences by means of comparison as a way not only to describe facts, but also to explain motives and unobservable meanings. According to the results of the conducted research, the author comes to the conclusion that the solution of urgent problems of society through the practical application of the acquired knowledge about society is possible only if the phenomenological method is actively applied in such a scientific and practical discipline as public administration. This will help to overcome the bureaucratization of the civil service, the isolation of the state administrative apparatus from real social problems, as well as to involve the population itself in the process of public administration, establishing feedback.

scholarly journals Public Administration Reform in Bulgaria: Top-down and Externally-driven Approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-124
Author(s):  
Emilia Zankina
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Human Resources Management ◽  
External Pressure ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Policy Outcomes ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Public Administration Reform ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
The Eu

The article examines public administration reform (PAR) in Bulgaria and the main factors that shaped the reform agenda and dynamics. PAR is examined along five key dimensions – transparency and accountability, civil service and human resources management (HRM), public service delivery and digitalisation, organisation and management of government, and policy-making coordination and implementation. The article argues that there are four main factors influencing reform dynamics and determining policy outcomes in the Bulgarian case: the specific political choices made by government elites, external influence of the EU and of past national legacies, and the importance of institutions and reform mechanisms. To illustrate these factors at work, the article examines three policy initiatives, i.e. e-government, the reduction of administrative burden, and civil service reform. The article presents a longitudinal analysis and a qualitative case-study approach, utilising Annual Reports on the Status of the Public Administration 2001–2018, mapping European Semester Documents 2011–2017, an inventory of PAR initiatives 2005–2018, and interviews of public officials. The pushes for reform have been top-down, externally-driven, and stop-and-go in nature. The results confirm previous findings that Bulgaria is among the EU countries with the poorest record in PAR, struggling to overcome communist legacies and high levels of corruption and politicisation. The Bulgarian case highlights several important lessons: the importance of political will and political dynamics for the outcome of reform efforts; the importance of external pressure and financing; the difficulty of uprooting long-standing legacies in administrative traditions; and the limitations of the top-down approach as an obstacle to the sustainability of reform efforts.

scholarly journals UPDATING THE PRESTIGE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE IN THE REFORM PROCESS

2020 ◽  
pp. 125-134
Author(s):  
Veronika Karkovska
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Reform Process ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Administrative Services ◽  
The Public ◽  
Official Position ◽  
European Standards ◽  
The Prestige

The prestige of the civil service affects the quality of attracting resources to the public administration, and the civil service is considered as part of the public administration connected with the realization of the goals, tasks and functions of the state. The study of the factors of prestige and the attempt to formulate its model are necessary to manage the process of raising the prestige of socially important spheres of life, one of which is the protection of national interests. The article identifies and analyzes that influence the formation of the prestige of the civil service of Ukraine and leading countries. They are based on the use of official position not in the interests of society: protectionism, mutual services, use of state property for personal purposes, as well as bribes, kickbacks and other illegal mechanisms of "transformation of power into money". Also, criteria have been selected to take into account the prestige, which are a result of the efficiency of public administration and the macroeconomic environment, because they reflect the possibilities and freedom of realization of activity. Updating the prestige of the civil service is a prerequisite for successful European integration and good and efficient public administration that meets the requirements of modern times and European standards and principles of good governance. The  detail analyzes the main factors influencing the prestige of the civil service. After evaluating all possible factors, we can distinguish those that most accurately and accurately reflect the results of the question under study. Measures justified to increase the level of prestige of the civil service.The effectiveness of the reform of the Ukrainian civil service must be accompanied by the creation of a professional, politically impartial, stable, highly efficient, authoritative and prestigious civil service capable of meeting the challenges of today and providing quality administrative services that meet European standards.

scholarly journals Social Responsibility as a Performance Indicator of Public Authorities

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Oleg V. Pavlyshyn ◽  
Tetiana P. Ustymenko ◽  
Mariia P. Babiuk ◽  
Nataliia Ya. Kaida ◽  
Dmytro V. Shkrebets
Keyword(s):  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Theoretical Approaches ◽  
The Social ◽  
A Performance

Further development of consolidated democracy in the modern world involves the implementation of the concept of responsible, socially significant and law-compliant behaviour of public servants. This urges the issue of defining social responsibility as a qualitatively new performance indicator of public authorities in public discourse. The research aims at analysing the relevance of the use of social responsibility as a criterion for evaluating the work of public authorities. The relationship of the social responsibility and professionalism development processes is analysed from the angle of public administration, and their impact on ensuring the effective implementation of competencies by public authorities is determined. The article analyses professionalism styles, substantiates the reasonability of wider application of professionalism as a factor capable of ensuring the introduction of social responsibility by public authorities for the effective implementation of their competencies. The theoretical approaches of New Public Management and Good Governance for the development of a socially responsible approach in the work of public authorities are analysed. Emphasis is placed on the practical significance of Good Governance in ensuring the sustainable development of public sector organizations and their transparency as an important factor and consequence of the realization of social responsibility principles. It is concluded that the ongoing implementation of social responsibility approaches in the work of public authorities in the 10’s of the 21st century has been re-actualized. It is generalized that social responsibility is a means of maintaining the integrity of society, ensuring social justice, social relations development. It is determined that the social responsibility level of the state is a performance indicator of public administration. It is concluded that effective corporate social responsibility requires the development of a regulatory mechanism of public administration and public-private partnership.   Received: 4 January 2021 / Accepted: 6 April 2021 / Published: 10 May 2021

scholarly journals EXECUTIVE/LEGISLATIVE RELATIONSHIP IN BAYELSA STATE UNDER GOVERNOR HENRY SERIAKE DICKSON’S ADMINISTRATION: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

2015 ◽  
pp. 318-329
Author(s):  
Okoko Sinizibe ◽  
Frank Ogbomah ◽  
Kakatei Juanita
Keyword(s):  
Political Parties ◽  
Political Development ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
The State ◽  
Secondary Source ◽  
The People ◽  
Democratic State ◽  
The Social ◽  
Research Questions

The administration of any democratic state revolves around the three constitutionally recognized arms of government; the legislature, executive and the judiciary. Their relationship is very important for the actualization of the goals of the state. However, this relationship is more pronounced between the executive and the legislature as both appear to belong to political parties and are elected by the electorates. Executive/legislative relationship most times appears conflictual and in some cases cooperative. The study examines the executive/legislative relationship in Bayelsa State to determine the nature and the issues and challenges in their relationship during Henry Seriake Dickson administration. To achieve the objective of the study, two research questions were formulated to guide the study. System theory was used as framework for analysis. The study draws its arguments basically from secondary source hence content analysis research design was used to analyze the secondary data. The findings revealed that the executive dominated the legislature in their relationship under Henry Seriake Dickson’s administration which weakened the ability of the legislators to effectively perform their duties as the representatives of the people. It was also revealed that the unprofessional and inexperience of the legislators also affected their ability to effectively perform their duties which affected the social, economic and political development of the state. In the light of the above, the study recommends amongst others that the legislature should wake up to their responsibility as the watchdog of the executive and effectively monitor the activities of the executive in order to ensure good governance in Bayelsa State. More experienced people should be elected to the legislature to curtail the excesses and the continued dominance of the executive on the legislature and other institutions of government.

scholarly journals Modern Models of Public Administration in EU Countries: Implementation Experience

2019 ◽  
pp. 38-47
Author(s):  
Valentyna Nykolaieva
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Public Management ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
The Public ◽  
Eu Countries ◽  
New Public ◽  
The Eu

The comparative characteristics of European public administration systems are presented. Particular attention is paid to new models of public administration in EU countries: New Public Management (NPM); New Public Governance (NPG) or New public service (NPS); Good Governance (GG). Both positive and negative characteristics of these government models are listed. Successful reform of public administration is revealed through the creation of appropriate institutions and adherence to the relevant principles, procedures, and standards of public administration and values that should be guided by civil servants. It is proved that the sphere of organization of public administration and civil service in the EU has wide experience through the implementation of so-called «soft» standards. The focus is on highlighting effective tools for reforming public administration in the EU, their main functions. The implications of NPM implementation for European regions, which were adapted by Walter Kicker’s presentation, are outlined. The key features of the new public administration and the cardinal directions of administrative reforms implemented in each EU country are identified, as well as the improvement of the main interconnected components of the public administration system, which include: institutions; rules and procedures, processes and mechanisms for coordination of cooperation; personnel potential. The realization of the reform of the public administration through the reform of administrative procedures, the development of the civil service, the process of decentralization and agencification were clarified. In modern democratic states, managerial innovations are aimed at supporting market mechanisms for democratization of public authorities; market marketing (transformation) of the work of the state with the mass introduction of methods of state managerialism. In these government models, a customer-centric approach is put in place to develop an appropriate strategy based on consumer values, meeting expectations from service providers and implementing information technology.

Corruption and human nature: an ecosystem analysis experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 59-64
Author(s):  
NIZAMI MAMEDOV ◽  
◽  
ZHANNA SHISHOVA ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Ecosystem Approach ◽  
Motivating Factors ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Service Ecosystem ◽  
Internal And External Factors ◽  
External Incentives ◽  
The Relationship

The global problem of corruption needs an integrative understanding from psychology, sociology, jurisprudence, and cultural approaches. Corruption threatens national and global security, leads to the degradation of humanistic, moral values, and significantly reduces the level of social capital and the effectiveness of governance in a wide range of areas. The article considers the origins of corruption and its motivating factors based on ideas concerning the nature of man, the human psyche, based on an analysis of the relationship between the conscious and unconscious levels of consciousness and subconscious, instinctive impulses. The author discusses the possibility of preventing corruption in an ecosystem approach to civil service, which would allow a holistic presentation of internal and external factors that determine the essence of the civil service, the prerequisites, and conditions for its harmonization with the social environment. By understanding civil servants’ behavior, internal motives, and external incentives, it is possible to define a public service ecosystem that will ensure a symbiosis between the civil service, society, and the State. The creation of such an ecosystem can contribute to the qualitative improvement of public administration.

Public Governance Concepts and their Use in Civil Service Reform Research

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-40
Author(s):  
Saulius Pivoras ◽  
Ernesta Visockytė
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Administrative Law ◽  
Participatory Governance ◽  
Civil Service Reform ◽  
Public Governance

In the context of traditional public administration, there is a concept known as "good admi-nistration". Good administration is understood primarily as a professional and ethical civil ser-vants' activity. However, "good administration" is more of a subject of public or administrative law, which shows an important but relatively narrow aspect of public governance. The aim of this article is to analyze the latest concepts of public governance and to evaluate their adaptability in analysis of civil service reforms. Such adaptability is relevant because the concepts of public governance reveal the most important attitudes of contemporary public administration, primarily in a normative sense. The aim of the article is met by analyzing the latest scientific literature on public governance, evaluating the place and weight of good governance and participatory governance in the concepts of public governance, and discussing the concepts of good governance developed by international organizations. After highlighting the major features and characteristics of the concepts of public governance, the article analyses their adaptability in analysis of civil service reforms.http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ppaa.10.1.226

scholarly journals The Nigerian State and the Challenges of Rising Cases of Sexual Assault Among Nigerian Citizens

2020 ◽  
pp. 107-115
Author(s):  
Oladimeji Sogo Osewa ◽  
Ngozi Thelma Mohammed ◽  
David Oluwatoba Alabi
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Relative Deprivation ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
The People ◽  
The Social ◽  
The World ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Secondary Methods ◽  
Almost All

The social vices rape “has been around” for a very long time, it is as old as humankind. It has been experiencing in almost all the countries of the world. However, in a country like Nigeria, the issue of rape among the people had been on the rising rate these days as many babies, aged and teenagers had been raped to death. It is in view of the above challenges that this paper examined the causes, impact and solutions to the rising cases of rape in Nigeria. The paper adopted the relative deprivation theory to validate its arguments, while data are gathered through the secondary methods as data are retrieved from books, articles, newspapers and internet materials. This paper argued that the major causes of the rising cases of rape in Nigeria are youth’s unemployment that is realized as a result of bad governance, and submit that good governance is the only lasting and perpetual solution to the rising cases of rape in Nigeria.

scholarly journals LEGAL RESTRICTIONS ON WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE TASKS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN UKRAINE

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Civil Service ◽  
Civil Servant ◽  
Civil Servants ◽  
Professional Activity ◽  
Women's Participation ◽  
The Social ◽  
Legal Restrictions ◽  
The Impact

Introduction. The article is devoted to the analysis of the content of the institute of legal restrictions imposed on a woman who is in the civil service and performs tasks in the field of public administration. On the basis of the provisions of acts of international law and the laws of Ukraine on Civil Service, found that for women - civil servants subject to special legal restrictions, which are provided by law bans involvement of women in certain forms of their professional duties and tasks for narrowing their total workload to preserve their health and create conditions for full implementation of the social function of the mother. The main results of the study. It is proved that the relevant legislation on public service both Ukraine imposed restrictions on female civil servant to attract her to the tasks of public administration and, at the same time, it focused on social protection. This approach is contributes to the establishment of a regime of "normal living conditions for civil servants. In particular, under the law relating to limiting women's participation in official missions, limiting working hours for women, limitations associated with the transfer of female civil servant to another location and so on. Particular attention is paid to the specifics of women's performance in the field of public administration of defense and national security. It is established that many legal restrictions for women in these areas are not always observed. In particular, attention is focused on unequal age conditions for concluding a contract for military service for women, the established age limit for female conscripts, regardless of service, and the ability of men to serve in the army for 15 years longer than women. The latest changes in the legislation to correct this situation are also disclosed. Conclusions. It is noted that the legal restrictions provided for in the legislation, which are provided for women involved in public administration, despite their positive impact, narrow in some way the scope of their professional opportunities, as well as limit the actual ability to exercise power. However, their inherent social nature and the state must provide adequate compensatory mechanisms stimulating professional activity of women civil servants and minimize the impact on female civil servant consequences relevant restrictions. In its turn, optimal administration of such measures is intended to increase not only the professional performance of women as public administrators, but also enhance the social effectiveness of public administration in general.

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