Public Administration in the

Century of Interdependence

Res Publica- Public Thing

Republic - Existence of
Some government legitimacy
Some legal and political accountability
Relationship between Policy and Management
Policy Question- What is to be done
Management Question- How it is to be done
Public Administration
Is it possible to clearly demarcate boundaries
between policy and implementation?

Globalization

Interdependence between

Individuals
Groups
Nations

has always been a reality and basis for evolution of organized human
society

In last few centuries transfer of goods, labor, capital and information

has resulted in reduction in economic distance
But in last 25 yrs economic distance reduced at unprecedented pace
because of

Telecommunication
Internet

coincided by rapid liberalization of economies and ease of global

transactions

Globalization and Public

Administration
Can a state take its own decision of policy in
isolation?
Policies like subsidies, laws, trade policies, women rights etc.

UN
WTO
IMF
WB

Are we heading towards a global governance?

Job Security in developed world was in private
sector and otherwise in developing countries and
today?

Globalization and Public Administration

Globalization resulted in immense economic and
social benefits but what about the costs and
risks?
Distribution of costs and risks among individuals,
groups and countries is different from distribution
of benefits. It impacted concentration of
economic power between and within countries.
Can we reverse globalization?
Question for public administration-What to do?
Slow down the external transmission of destructive
developments in any one country
Prevent overreaction
Protect vulnerable groups and countries affected most
and at risk of being left farther behind

Globalization is a two way channel- international

(Contd)

Changing Role of Central Governments

Decentralization to whom?
Provincial or Local Governments

Reduction in economic distance within the country

Then what is the role of Provincial Governments? Control
and direction vs facilitation and technical assistance
But are these local governments equipped to act at
international level?
How to put up a front at international level- Central
Governments have a new role?
How is the state structure going to influence these
developments? Federation vs Unitary State

Other Issues for Public Administration

International Political Environment
End of Cold War and transition to open economies
Reduction in state provided goods and services
How to go about such adjustment

Ethnicity
Since 1990 ethnicity issues on rise- more serious than
religious divide
Rwanda, Yugoslavia and Sudan (African Muslims
oppressed by Arab ruling elite)
What about Pakistan?

Can decentralization and performance evaluation

models of homogenous societies be replicated in
heterogeneous societies?

Other Issues for Public Administration

Disappearing Peace Dividend
After demise of USSR world reduced spending on defense
World defense expenditure down from 6% of GDP in 1989 to
2% in 1998
US defense budget down from 5.6% to 3.1%
But 9/11, Iraq War, Afghanistan War
In 2006 again 6%
What about us?
Cross boarder fund raising and transfer by sympathizers of
such conflicts
Is military spending and national security linked? What about
Costa Rica?
Security Dilemma higher military spending by one country
provokes other to take countermeasures because of felt
insecurity- IndoPak
Contd

Other Issues for Public Administration

Disappearing Peace Dividend
Even if military apparatus is necessary, who decides
a. The overall amount of military spending is appropriate
b. Its composition is suitable
c. There is limited waste

What about the opportunity cost of this expenditure?

Countries like US are facing the music of high military spending
.Public debt, unemployment, social security

What about us?

Issue how to balance the benefits from military

spending- however they may be defined against the
benefits that would otherwise accrue from spending the
same money for other purposes or improving the health
of economy
Contd

Governance
Is the process of decision-making and the process by which
decisions are implemented (or not implemented)
Is the manner in which state power is exercised- as distinct
from purpose for which power is exercised. It has to do with the
quality of the process and not the quality of outcomes
Governance Analysis include all those who affect decision
making
Formal Actors- Government, military
Civil Society- Associations, NGOs, religious leaders, political parties
Informal Actors- Land mafia, influential land lords, informal
advisors

Bad or arbitrary decisions may at times lead to good results but

normally this is not going to happen
Even good decisions if reached in an undesirable manner
( authoritarian or arbitrary manner) may lead to undesirable
results

Good Governance
Four basic pillars
Accountability
Transparency
Rule of Law
Participation

Extended to eight
Responsiveness
Consensus
Equity and inclusiveness
Effectiveness and efficiency

Good Governance
Accountability has two components
1. Answerability
2. Consequences
Accountability is the key but question is
accountability of whom, for what, and to
whom

Transparency means following rules and

regulations in decision making and availability
of relevant information to those affected in
simple and understandable form and media

Good Governance
Rule of Law require fair legal frameworks
that are enforced impartially. Protection of
human rights particularly of minorities. It
requires
Independent Judiciary
Impartial and incorruptible police

Participation by both men and women in

informed and organized manner and requires
Freedom of association
Organized civil society
Concern for most vulnerable in the society

Good Governance
Responsiveness requires that institutions and
processes try to serve all stakeholders within a
reasonable timeframe
Consensus orientation requires mediation between
different interests in the society to bring them to a broad
consensus on the interests of the society eg. Sustainable
human development and how to achieve it
Equity and Inclusiveness means ensuring that all
members of the society have a stake in it and do not feel
excluded from it
Effectiveness and Efficiency also include sustainable
use of natural resources and protection of environment