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R e v u ed el ’ I n s t i t u td uM o n d ee td udéveloppement
that would be performed by politically independent research institutions.
Obviously, some of such examples are known in other Central and Eas-
tern European countries too, for instance in Slovenia (Pandiloska Jurak and
Pinterič, 2012).
Last but not least problem is related to the mentioned low degree of ci-
tizens’ awareness. In this point it is quite fair to expect a quantitative as well
as qualitative change on the sides of all interested and relevant political ac-
tors. E-government seems to be a good way how to better and intensify the
information stream (Pinterič, 2010), but is should not be the only means.
Improvement of communication between the citizens and their political
representatives through various public hearings or public discussions could
be very helpful, too. An effective information policy provides for the exis-
tence of mutual communication channels which help to achieve planned
goals.
concluding remark
Success or failure in regard to the reform processes depends – as it is men-
tioned above – on several circumstances. In the previous sections I wanted
to point out how individual parties’ decisions and efforts modified the
reform strategies linked to local/regional public administration in Slova-
kia. Such decisions and efforts can be understood as political influence for
purposes of this paper. Obviously, it is clear that every reform process has
to be politically influenced. Therefore I concentrated in this paper on those
political decisions and efforts that had gone against either expert recom-
mendations or approved strategic documents and that had caused discon-
tinuity in a development of entire public administration system.
On the other hand, within the context of this paper, expert influence is un-
derstood as ability to implement (without any crucial modifications) those
expert proposals that were elaborated within estimation stage of policy
making. As one can see, expert proposals were in the most of the presented
cases avoided or significantly modified what in fact ruined their positive
outcomes. Such behaviour opens a question: “What is the factual role of
expert proposal within public administration reform processes?” Potential
answers rank from “a necessary and crucial element for any final decision”
till “a formal cloak that should just cover pure partisan interests”. However,
this requires further research.
References List
o
Act of the Slovak National Council n 346/1990 Coll. on Bodies of Commu-
nal Self-Government Election as amended
o
Act of the Slovak National Council n 369/1990 Coll. on Communal Esta-
o
RIMD–n 4–2013
R e v u ed el ’ I n s t i t u td uM o n d ee td udéveloppement
that would be performed by politically independent research institutions.
Obviously, some of such examples are known in other Central and Eas-
tern European countries too, for instance in Slovenia (Pandiloska Jurak and
Pinterič, 2012).
Last but not least problem is related to the mentioned low degree of ci-
tizens’ awareness. In this point it is quite fair to expect a quantitative as well
as qualitative change on the sides of all interested and relevant political ac-
tors. E-government seems to be a good way how to better and intensify the
information stream (Pinterič, 2010), but is should not be the only means.
Improvement of communication between the citizens and their political
representatives through various public hearings or public discussions could
be very helpful, too. An effective information policy provides for the exis-
tence of mutual communication channels which help to achieve planned
goals.
concluding remark
Success or failure in regard to the reform processes depends – as it is men-
tioned above – on several circumstances. In the previous sections I wanted
to point out how individual parties’ decisions and efforts modified the
reform strategies linked to local/regional public administration in Slova-
kia. Such decisions and efforts can be understood as political influence for
purposes of this paper. Obviously, it is clear that every reform process has
to be politically influenced. Therefore I concentrated in this paper on those
political decisions and efforts that had gone against either expert recom-
mendations or approved strategic documents and that had caused discon-
tinuity in a development of entire public administration system.
On the other hand, within the context of this paper, expert influence is un-
derstood as ability to implement (without any crucial modifications) those
expert proposals that were elaborated within estimation stage of policy
making. As one can see, expert proposals were in the most of the presented
cases avoided or significantly modified what in fact ruined their positive
outcomes. Such behaviour opens a question: “What is the factual role of
expert proposal within public administration reform processes?” Potential
answers rank from “a necessary and crucial element for any final decision”
till “a formal cloak that should just cover pure partisan interests”. However,
this requires further research.
References List
o
Act of the Slovak National Council n 346/1990 Coll. on Bodies of Commu-
nal Self-Government Election as amended
o
Act of the Slovak National Council n 369/1990 Coll. on Communal Esta-
o
RIMD–n 4–2013
