Political and Administrative Dichotomy in South Africa: The Principle of Separation of Powers at Local Government Level

Author(s): Sihle Ashia Vilakazi,Toyin Cotties Adetiba / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2020

The study of political and administrative dichotomy in the discipline of public administration has always been about the differences that occur within the framework of government institutions. These differences have always trigger the aspect of the principle of separation of powers that guide thefunctionality of these institutions. This study focused on analysing the principle of separation of powersat local government level, while navigating through the political and administrative dichotomy in South Africa. To ascertain the challenges facing municipalities on the basis of the effects of political andadministrative structures. Therefore, this study focused on the analysis of the principle of separation of powers vis-à-vis political and administrative structures at local government level. Using qualitative research approach, this study suggests that there a legal structure through which monitoring and safeguarding the harmony and wellbeing of the principle of separation of powers is guaranteed.

FEATURES OF STATE REGULATION OF CROWDFUNDING AS A NEW INSTITUTION OF THE FINANCIAL MARKET

Author(s): Yuri Kolesnikov,Dmitry Artemenko,Gennadiy Shkabin / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

The paper investigates the features of regulation of crowdfunding as a new institution of the financial market. A comparative analysis of the main aspects of the regulation of this investment institution is carried out from the standpoint of legal provisions. For this, a survey study of the current Russian and foreign developments in crowdinvestment is carried out. A comparative analysis of crowdfunding with other currently existing investment institutions is presented. Basic information on the activities of the existing crowdfunding platforms is provided, the prospects for further research in this area are outlined. The relevance of the subject matter is determined by the need to search for effective government regulation of crowdfunding as a relatively new institution of finance investment. Nowadays, there is a considerable number of crowdfunding platforms that involve the collective collaboration of people (donors), pooling their funds (usually via the Internet) for material support to other people or organisations (recipients). State regulation of the activities of the platforms, carried out on the basis of existing legal provisions, will contribute to giving the crowdfunding institute a certain order governed by regulations of the current legislation.

THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL APPRAISAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT BODIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Author(s): Alma Kulzhambekova,Zhamilya Bekbossynova / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

The aim of the study was to disclose the stages of formation, establishment and development of the system for assessing the effectiveness of the government bodies’ performance in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Reforming the system for assessing the effectiveness of the government bodies’ performance is found by the authors as an institutional tool with the help of which the improvement of the government bodies’ performance could be successfully analyzed.

DETERMINANT FACTORS OF E-GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTATION AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY: TOE FRAMEWORK APPROACH

Author(s): Siska Yulia Defitri,Asniati Bahari,Hefrizal Handra,Rahmat Febrianto / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

This study aimed to provide recommendations related to the model of the relationship of key factors in the implementation of e-government by using the theory of TEO approach represented by technological infrastructure, human resource competency, and external pressures. Moreover, it strengthened references related to the implementation of e-government in realizing public accountability to local governments. The data was collected through a survey by distributing questionnaires to the head of the Regional Apparatus Organization (OPD) in the Regional Government of West Sumatra and processed by using SEM-PLS statistical tool. The result of the study showed that the factors raised in the TEO framework can determine the implementation of e-government but is not proved for public accountability. The positive and significant impact of implementing e-government can increase accountability. Therefore, it can be proved that the increase of accountability can be achieved through maximizing e-government by each region.

ELECTRONIC FORM OF CITIZENS’ APPEAL AS AN INDICATOR OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Author(s): Serhii Kivalov / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

In Ukraine, the appeal of citizens to the subjects of office is an indicator of the democratization of the entire system of public administration, its openness, effectiveness, and efficiency. The official data on the number of appeals filed with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine from 2017 to 2019 was analyzed, using correlation analysis, Pearson’s chi-squared criterion, and theoretical and empirical distribution method. It was established that the prevailing form of citizens’ appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine in 2019 was the electronic form. The amount of using the electronic form has changed significantly from 2017 to 2019: the value of the Pearson’s Chi-squared criterion is 332.622, p <0.001. Moreover, it was determined that the value of the opportunity to focus on the application itself, and not on the accompanying formal application procedures, is the only significant harbinger of the thesis that using electronic forms makes the participation of citizens in public administration better. As a result of the study, it is proved that in Ukraine the distribution of the values of citizens’ appeals to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is different depending on the sphere of public relations; citizens’ appeals to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine mostly concern the sphere of social protection: the value of Pearson’s Chi-squared in 2019 is 27.203, p <0.01; in 2018 – 29.855, p <0.01; in 2017 – 28.65, p <0.01. Besides, it was determined that the changes in the distribution of appeals to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for 2017-2019 depending on the sphere of public relations were not identified.

YOUTH AWARENESS TOWARDS THE MALAYSIAN PUBLIC POLICIES UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKATAN HARAPAN

Author(s): Mohd Rozaimy bin Ridzuan,Noor Amira Syazwani binti Abd Rahman,Ju Soon-Yew / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

Public awareness is a drive for social change through the knowledge of social and political problems and the development of patterns for expression. Nevertheless, the degree of awareness varies from individual to another, particularly concerning public services, where not all people are aware of public policies formulated by the government. Currently, awareness of policies are still very minimal; thus, they only know the basics of right and wrong without understanding the full implications of it. There is a need to have a stronger emphasis on creating awareness on this vital issue. Thus, this study attempts to examine youth awareness on the public policies under the reign of Pakatan Harapan government. This descriptive study was conducted among youth in UiTM Cawangan Pahang Kampus Raub whereby 1121 respondents had participated in answering the questionnaires. The findings revealed that the majority of the respondents are aware of several public policies. However, among 11 public policies listed in the survey, four of them are still unknown to the youth. Therefore in this study, Rogers’ Diffusion Theory and the Public Participation theory were employed to underpin the core issues, and several recommendations are offered at the end of the paper.

ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TERRITORIAL COMMUNITIES

Author(s): Nataliia Gavkalova,Alina Zilinska,Volodymyr Polatay,Viktoriia Liashevska / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

The main purpose of the study was to develop organizational support for the development of united territorial communities. The theoretical part of the study analyzes the role of the territorial community in the formation of the system of local self-government in order to identify factors for successful community development. The empirical part of the study identifies a number of specific principles for the development of territorial communities. The scheme of organizational support of development for united territorial communities is offered and advantages concerning its use are given. It should be borne in mind that the scientific objective basis for the organizational support of the mechanism of development of territorial communities should be a set of economic laws; without the proper use and consideration of which, it can not perform its functions. To implement this mechanism, it is necessary to use the basic principles. The ways of forming the capacity of the united territorial community and their transition to economic self-development are given. Forms, methods, and mechanisms of cooperation of the united territorial community and local self-government bodies are offered.

ORGANIZATIONAL FORMS OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MEDIA MANAGEMENT IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM OF UKRAINIAN

Author(s): Viktoriia Andriiash,Nadiia Torkhova,Alexander Yevtushenko,Oksana Malikina / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

This article analyzes the theoretical and applied principles of functioning for the structural units of public administration bodies responsible for forming the relations with the public and mass media. The problem of finding optimal organizational forms of public relations and media management for the judiciary is of extreme importance. The system needs to increase the level of citizens’ trust and provide more transparent coverage of its activities in the framework of state reforms. The article determines the main tasks of the press service working for public authorities and, in particular, in courts.The research of the theory and actual state of the functioning of press services in courts also includes the analysis of the organizational forms of management of public relations processes in public authorities. It describes the structural place of the press service in the management process.

EXAMINING THE INDICATORS OF PUBLIC SERVICES PERFORMANCE: THE CASE OF ALBANIA

Author(s): Ilir Tomorri,Remzi Keco,Gentjan Mehmeti / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

The political changes after the 1990s were accompanied by major economic changes, transforming a centralized economy to decentralized. During the past two decades, the public sector in Albania has been through a dramatic change, mostly from a structural perspective. The purpose of this paper is to identify and evaluate the most significant indicators of public sector performance in the case of Albania. Thus, indicators such as utility services, legal and institutional framework, modernization of public administration, and economic issues are examined considering the public perception and furthermore, their expectations. The survey took place in Albania, wherein 200 questionnaires were delivered and fulfilled. Evaluation of variables in this study are rated using a 5-point Likert-type scale, with 1 being strongly disagree to 5 being strongly agree. Each variable is measured through items, which are estimated through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) as the most used technique in social sciences studies; Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method is implemented. Results indicate that all the 12 observed variables, are positively evaluated by the interviewed citizens. Two most positively evaluated indicators are the judicial system, and being employed in the public sector; while two less evaluated indicators are those of e-services and telecommunication. Referring to the citizens’ expectations, this paper will contribute to enhance the performance of the activities of public organizations and government institutions. In addition, the results of this study, aim to help policy-making structures improve the performance of public administration in providing public services to citizens.

RESTORING TRUST IN GOVERNMENT AS A PREREQUISITE FOR THE FORMATION OF EFFECTIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN UKRAINE

Author(s): Serhii Serohin,Nataliya Sorokina,Ihor Pysmennyi / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

This article concerns research on the basic ways to increase the trust of Ukrainian society in its government via a sociological study conducted among public servants. Based on this study, it is established that the main way to increase confidence in government is to implement harsher, more definite punishment for those who break the laws of Ukraine. In addition to this, ensuring the openness and transparency of power is also an important way of increasing trust. The Polish approach to this issue is also analyzed, and it is concluded that social dialogue between government bodies and society is an important element in the formation of constructive public relations. Alongside the issue of trust, the level of corruption in government over the last several years is discussed in this article. Finally, it is concluded that trust is the most important attribute of effective public administration, and one of the prerequisites for the stable and predictable development of Ukraine.

WORLD EXPERIENCE OF THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AND ITS APPLICATION IN THE ECONOMY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Author(s): Zarina B. Sadykova,Gaukhar RAKHIMZHANOVA / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2020

209–220The purpose of the paper is to research the world experience of the public-private partnership development and its application in the current state of the economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The leading method of research was the method of analysis. Methods of synthesis, systematicity, comparison, induction, and deduction were also used during the study. The novelty of the study is determined by the fact that a feature of the global institutional environment that is formed by world leading countries lies in the establishment of a close dependence on the institutional mechanism of the public-private partnership of a particular state on international institutions and provisions – leading states, formal and informal intergovernmental institutions, transnational networks of business corporations, and non-governmental organisations. The authors show that the institutional subjects of public-private partnerships in a globalising world interact not only within the country, but also beyond its borders. The practical significance of the study is determined by the fact that public authorities as part of a group of states form networks of interaction with other entities that, together with representatives of private capital, develop concepts and state public-private partnership programs, focusing on the provisions of a single international legal framework.

A Bibliometric Mapping of the Research Trends of Public Governance and Entrepreneurship Framework

Author(s): Oana-Ramona Lobont,Raul Purcarita,Sorana Vatavu,Florin Costea / Language(s): English Issue: 1Sup1/2021

The involvement of governments and public institutions in entrepreneurial activity has grown considerably in the last years. Public governance has begun to pay more attention to the fact that, in order to achieve the goal of economic development in a country, it is necessary to increase entrepreneurship both qualitatively and quantitatively. Most governments have created significant actions that encouraged and supported the entrepreneurial activity and also they have contributed to supporting the private sector in the economy. The present paper analyses the scientific works related to entrepreneurship and public governance, as well as to investigate the connection between these topics. The study presents a bibliometric analysis of the importance of the nexus public governance and entrepreneurship. The proposed research studies 201 references collected from the Clarivate Analytics, Web of Science Core Collection database. The research methodology performed to graphically map the literature is bibliometric analysis. The analysis is carried out on three distinct levels, namely the analysis of the co-occurrence of keywords, co-citation and co-author by means of (VOS) viewer program. This approach allows us to highlight the main results presented in journals, magazines, documents, subjects, authors, institutions but also results recorded at the country level. The study also evidence the main trends and impact of research in the form of a visual and schematic research framework on the relationship between public governance and entrepreneurship and its related elements, namely innovation and development.

PERCEPTIONS TOWARDS THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC SERVICES IN ROMANIA. POOR OUTCOMES OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORMS

Author(s): Claudia Petrescu,Flavius Mihalache / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2020

Public services represent an important dimension of quality of society, as they create the contextual conditions for people to further their quality of life. Romanian public administration reform has brought about a constant institutional transformation, which has influenced both the specific features and the quality of the services. This article aims to analyse trends regarding the perceived quality of public services in Romania, in European comparative perspective, using the data of the European Quality of Life Survey (2003–2016). The article aims to understand the low satisfaction with public services in Romania against the background of the public service reform measures taken by government in this period. The article describes the context of Romanian public administration and public service reform, the most important public policy measures adopted and the most important challenges. The lack of vision in the public service reform, the partial introduction of reform elements, the permanent and, sometimes, conflicting changes are issues that may have influenced the way in which the population perceives the quality of public services. The decentralisation process of public services and the insufficient allocation of public funds for delivering such services at local level might have an impact on their quality and quantity perceived by the population.

BOOK REVIEW: URBAN PLANNING IN THE DIGITAL AGE BY NICOLAS DOUAY

Author(s): Mihaela Păceşilă / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2021

PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF ORGANIZING REMOTE WORK IN CIVIL SERVICE: A STUDY

Author(s): Natalia Aliushyna,Tetyana Fedorenko,Aušra Šukvietienė / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

This article analyzes the practice of organizing remote work in the Ukrainian civil service during the quarantine brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers describe the modes and peculiarities of organizing remote work, and the differences in modes of organizing remote work in government agencies at different levels of jurisdiction are shown. Civil servants’ self-assessments of efficiency, work quality, and administrative discipline levels after the transition to remote work are examined. A comparison of attitudes towards the peculiarities of remote work among individuals of different ages, experience levels, and genders and among those performing different tasks is carried out. This article identifies problems that need to be addressed within the framework of implementing remote work. Five main trends in organizing remote work are outlined: the promotion of learning and self-development; the promotion of IT tools in the civil service; an awareness of the importance of communication and interaction; the development of non-financial incentives for teams; and the adaptability of employees to new working conditions in the face of moderate resistance to change.

TOWARD ISLAMIC-IRANIAN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION THEORY: A COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL STUDY

Author(s): Roohallah Noori,Hamidreza-Ramak Mohamadhossein / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2021

The theory of the Islamic Republic state that was established in Iran following the conquest of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 emphasizes values that are distinct from Western political systems. Therefore, the mere implementation of modern Western public administration theories, which are in line with the liberal-democratic political system, has many challenges, and cannot guarantee the realization of the justice-oriented aspirations of the Islamic Republic. Developing public administration theory appropriate to the Islamic Republic is thus critical. The purpose of this article is to take a step towards achieving the development of this theory. First, the basic values of state and public administration are extracted from the academic literature. Second, the state and public administration in the Islamic Republic of Iran are historically compared using these values. Subsequently, recommendations are made for the development of an appropriate theory for public administration, in which values such as the right path (Sirat al-Mustaqim), justice, God’s pleasure, and public interests are critical to the planning and realization of other components of the Islamic-Iranian bureaucracy.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SECURITY: EURASIAN FOCUS

Author(s): Aleksandras Patapas,Maksym Pylypenko / Language(s): English Issue: 5/2021

This issue brings up a complicated and converging problematics, which essentially includes several components: public-private partnerships (Bobrovska et al., 2020), social responsibility of businesses and each particular citizen (Dema et al., 2018), their joint efforts in pursuit of both the sustainable development of society and the support of the latter’s safety at various levels (Lozhkina et al., 2021). Previously, academic and publicist literature rather frequently brought these subjects up on an individual basis (Hlushchenko, 2021; Slobodeniuk, 2021). However, we believe that sophisticated issues require complex solutions in their natural interaction with concomitant elements – conjointly, which allows observing the full picture and factor in possible previously unnoticed causal relationships. Metaphorically speaking, we offer the reader to compare the state – as an abstraction and actual force, including its components represented by various authorities, companies, and enterprises, and even certain select citizens – with a living organism, certain organs of which must not only coexist in harmony, but act in a well-orchestrated and efficient manner. This issue predominantly addresses the underestimated, in our opinion, Eurasian region which, at its current development stage and transition to market economy, constitutes an object of study of the utmost interest.

ADAPTATION OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS TO EUROPEAN STANDARDS

Author(s): Oleg Diegtiar,Artem Yu. Gevorkyan,Tetiana V. Cherepovska,Serhii H. Kuzmenko,Natalya V. Mozhaykina / Language(s): English Issue: 5/2021

The article examines the theoretical and methodological foundations of the formation and adaptation of mechanisms of municipal government of Ukraine to international standards of quality management. It is revealed that the standards of the ISO 9001 series (with an explanation to them concerning the municipal management of ISO 18091) are a generalization of the advanced world experience in the field of quality management. Generalized approaches to the definition of the category “municipal government” and provided a universal author's definition of this category, which includes all the best domestic and international experience in researching this problem. It is proved that the transition to the formation of an effective municipal government of Ukrainian cities requires a comprehensive review of the entire system of local self-government, management technology, decision-making practices and allocation of available resources. Factors influencing the system of municipal management, which are specific to each local entity, are identified and analyzed. Typical processes of municipal management and statement of problems for their introduction on the basis of use in process of municipal management of process approach are defined. The system of the basic processes of integrated quality management of municipal management of Ukraine which are universal and effective mechanisms of adaptation of the international standards to modern domestic municipal management is constructed. Based on international standards and domestic conditions, a system of integrated diagnostics, testing, evaluation and action for the formation of high-quality effective municipal government of Ukraine has been developed and recommendations for its implementation have been provided. It is concluded that the value of the theoretical and methodological and practical results presented in the study lies in the possibility of their application to improve the mechanisms of municipal governance and their adaptation to international standards of quality management.

PERFORMANCE AUDIT FOR STATE PROGRAMMES IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Author(s): Laura Alikulova,Saule B. SPATAYEVA,Dmitry Pankov,Lyazzat M. Sembiyeva / Language(s): English Issue: 5/2021

This study is necessitated by a detailed analysis of the types of audit, in particular, the performance audit of the quasi-public sector. The purpose of this study was to investigate one of the most effective mechanisms of state financial control – performance audit. The main research methods included the method of system analysis, the method of analysis and synthesis, and the method of the system approach. It was pointed out that the performance audit constitutes a detailed audit of the activities of persons who manage the received public funds, aimed at determining the effectiveness of the use of budget funds as an indicator of their competence in performing the functions assigned to them and the tasks set. The main difference between a performance audit and any control activity is that it should not end with the conventional preparation of a report on its results. The obvious vulnerabilities of the performance audit were also identified with the currently available legislative and methodological framework, and its concepts were presented in accordance with the audit standards adopted by the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions. As a result, the study proved the relevance of the concept of performance audit, but it requires systematic preparation of the legislative, regulatory, and methodological framework, taking into account the specific features of the country's development.

THE EFFECTS OF DELIBERATION ON CITIZEN KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PREFERENCES: A CASE STUDY OF A BELGRADE DELIBERATIVE MINI PUBLIC

Author(s): Ana Đorđević,Jelena Vasiljević / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2022

Participation in deliberative arenas is often lauded for its transformative impact on citizens’ attitudes, sense of agency and ability to formulate concrete policy proposals. The focus of this paper is the first ever deliberative mini public in Belgrade, centred on the topic of expanding the pedestrian zone and rerouting traffic in the city core. By relying on a set of qualitative and quantitative data collected before and after the deliberation, we aim to explore the effects of the public deliberation on the participants’ knowledge, attitudes and preferences. Our hypothesis was that participation in this deliberative process led to better understanding (enhanced knowledge) of the discussed topic and change in attitudes and preferences regarding its realization. The scope of this study is limited, given the non-experimental design and small sample. Overall, the results indicate that participants` knowledge on the topic of deliberation is enhanced, becoming more precise, elaborate and encompassing different perspectives. As for the attitudes and preferences, in most cases, around two-thirds of the sample changed their positions, while about a third of the sample changed sides, mostly agreeing less with the expansion of the pedestrian zone. The findings support the conclusion that, on a local level, deliberation has the capacity to inform and enhance competence for greater political participation.