development administration
TRANSCRIPT
DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
PUBA 301FIRST SEMESTER 2015
Manyaka [email protected]
Tel: 015 268 3297Cell: 078 565 5401
ASSIGNMENT
• Comprehensively and critically discuss theoriginative context of the notion of aDevelopmental State in contemporarydevelopment discourse
• Specifications: 20 pages (excluding thebibliography, 12’ Times New Roman, 1.5spacing and well justified and Minimum of 15sources)
Learning outcomes from the assignment
• After the completion of this assignment, students should be able to:-
>Understand the meaning of the concept of developmentalstate as desired development model>Understand how the concept of a developmental state isbeing theorised by policy makers and academics alike in SouthAfrica>Give a detailed account of the originative context of the ideaof a developmental state.>Explain the salient features of a developmental state>Describe the purpose of a developmental state>Explain its relevance in contemporary developmentdiscourse
Learning objectives
The focus of this lecture is on the notion of aDevelopment Administration. At the end of thislecture, students should understand the following:-o The meaning of the concept Development
Administrationo The nature & purpose of development
Administrationo Various facets and/or elements of Development
Administration ando The nature of Development constraints &
problems in developing countries.
Introduction
• Governments have increased in sizes throughoutthe world.
• This increase in sizes has had some seriousimbalances emerging between 1) the hopes ofthe people and the realities on the ground and 2)developments needs and their fulfilment.
• It is within this context that in order to carry outthe growing functions of government, theadministrative system needs to be adapted,developed and even expanded to realisedevelopment needs.
Cont’
• The post world war 2 period 1950’s and 1960’s was characterised byheightened interests / confidence in the power of economic &administrative systems and techniques of western origin.
• The cold war presented an ideal environment for the pursuit ofeconomic interests & desires to secure economic advantages by thedeveloped countries and multi-national cooperation's, mainly fromthe west, in developing countries.
• It was within this context that Development administrationemerged. It emerged because there was a realisation in thedevelopment discourse that governments and their bureaucraciesin less developed countries needed to be recreated, renewed andrevitalised for development & transformation to take place.
cont’
• The term Development Administration wasdiscovered in the mid-1950s.
• However, it was only in the early 1960s thatDevelopment Administration gained popularity asa distinct approach towards administeringdevelopment process under extremely situationin developing countries.
• What then is the meaning of the conceptDevelopment Administration? This vexedquestion is addressed in the section that follows.
Meaning of Development Administration (DA)
• It should be acknowledged that any meaningfuldiscussion depends on the clarity of concepts.This is not so because concepts in the main arecontested terrains, clarification of concepts iscritical because according Maserumule(2012:180) concepts are tools of thinking.
• The correct use of concepts is important toimprove our thinking and to undergird theepistemic imperative of the discourse.
Meaning Conti’
• The term development Administration is defined differently by differentscholars. In other words, there are as many definitions as there areauthors.
• However, three definitions stands out thorough analysis of the discourseof Development Administration
Development Administration refers to those activities of government thatpromote economic growth, strengthen human & organisational capacities,enhance quality in the distribution of opportunities & income (Milton Esman)Development Administration refers to management of policies, programmesand projects designed to achieve development goals and objectives ((GFGant)Developments Administration is concerned with development policies,programmes and projects in those conditions in which there are wide andnew demands as well as low capacities and severe obstacles for meetingthose demands (Bernard Schaffer)
Conti’
• The commonality in these three definitions is thatDevelopment Administration is a “special kind ofadministration” that is best suited to the needs &challenges of developing countries-where there areformidable obstacles in the road to development.
• What stands out clear in these definitions is thatDevelopment Administration is premised on the idea thatthere are significant & fundamental differences betweenadministrative process in developed & developingcountries.
• Development Administration questions the relevance ofclassical/ traditional public administration systems,concepts & methods to the rapidly changing demands &challenges of development.
conti’
One crucial aspect of DA is that people are not only thetargets of development administration but are also viewedas useful resources & beneficiaries of development projects,they must actively participate in the development process.The nature of development problems and challenges ofdeveloping countries are highly complex, dynamic &formidable.Proponents of this view hold that it is imperative to findappropriate institutions and organisations that are betterable to address these challenges.Hence, there is a realisation that public institutions must bere-created & restructured to adequately respond to thedevelopmental needs & aspirations of the people.
Conti’
It is often argued that development in developing countries isnot frustrated by inadequate financial resources but bynumerous inadequacies inherent in the administrativemachinery of the bureaucracies in developing countries.It is therefore important that the administrative systems &organisations be structured in such a way that they areresponsive to such problems.This means that public organisations must conform to theirown socio-economic & political environment in order torealise their administrative & development goals.The shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach.
Conti’
• The new thinking in development discourse puts more emphasis onexperimentation.
• This means that as a results of oceans of diversity, there can be nobest way/path to development (hence different countries willfollow different development routes)
• One other issue is that government needs to intervene in theeconomy. Proponents of this view argues that government & theirbureaucracies in developing countries cannot afford to be passiveparticipants in the development process.
• Government needs to be actively involved in the design,formulation & administration of development projects.
• Proponents of this view holds that governments should go beyondthe mere regulation of the economy and extend their role into therealm of facilitating & inducing fundamental & structural changes.
Facets of Development Administration
• Development Administration has got two major facetsnamely: development of administration & Administrationof development.
• Development of AdministrationDevelopment of administration involves the strengthening &improving administrative capacities as a means for achievingdevelopmental goals. The focus here is to develop administrators.
• Administration of DevelopmentAdministration of development implies that administrativeorganisations are expected to act as instruments in theimplementation of development programmes, projects andpolicies.
Conti’
• To this end, it can be argued that the two facetsof development administration constitute twosides of the same coin.
• This means that administration cannot beimproved without changes in the environmentalconstraints that hamper its effectiveness &equally, the environment cannot be changedunless and until administration of developmentprogrammes is strengthened.
Elements of development Administration
• Planned & coordinated efforts
Development Administration in operational termsrefers to organised efforts to carry-out developmentprogrammes & projects in the direction of nationbuilding & socio-economic development
It is important to acknowledge that such efforts needsto be channelled towards developing human & materialresources as part and parcel of national development.
For progress to be attained in this regard, planning andcoordination should be considered critical in suchorganising efforts..
CONT’
Planning & coordination in this regard is crucial as itfacilitates the identification of major functions/projectsto be carried out as well as the alignment of suchprogrammes.
In developing countries where human & materialresources are scarce, governments are increasinglyunder tremendous pressure to adopt & adapt planningtechniques as crucial in promoting socio-economicdevelopment. NDP is a case in point
• Goal-orientated administrationOne of the critical aspects of administrative functions of PUBAis policy making. Policy Making is critical as it set goals andobjectives of administrative actions.Development Administration does not only involve effectiveand efficient carrying out of functions, it also involveformulation of clear goals and objectives that guide theadministrative action.It must be goal-orientated administration with emphasis onachieving socio-economic goals.However, in most instances, bureaucratic administration isrule bound & procedure orientated offering resistance tochange.
• Management capacities
One of the facets of development administration putsmore emphasis on the development of administrators.
This involves creating & enhancing managementcapacities of administrators as a means for achievingdevelopment goals.
The focus of DA is on improving the skills andknowledge of development orientated administratorsso that they are able to effectively respond to thegrowing needs of the people.
Elements
• ProgressivismThe element of progressiveness of goals is anaccepted feature of development administration.Progressivism in this case means greaterparticipation of the people in development process.It also entails training & development ofadministrators with a focus on preparingadministration for future tasks.This essentially requires forecast of newcompetencies in the wake of changing technology &methods.
Elements
• Public participationParticipation is another key element of developmentadministration.Progressive realisation of development goals by developingeconomies would entail a far greater participation of thepeople.In political democracies, public participation would imply thestrengthening of pressure groups, political parties & respectfor public opinion in government efforts.It is therefore expected of DA machinery to create & promotesuch conditions that will facilitate greater participation in theprocess of social & economic change and in delivery of publicservices.
Public participationCont’
• To this end, it can be argued that participation of people inthe formulation, implementation, monitoring & evaluationof programmes & projects attuned to benefit them iscritical feature of development administration.
• However, it is important to note that for participation to beeffective, members of the public should be familiar withthe problems to be addressed.
• They must also demonstrate willingness & ability toparticipate.
• If Public participation can be made a central feature ofdevelopment administration, development administrationwill be grass-roots orientated.
Elements
• Creativity & innovativenessAnother important element in development administration iscreativity & innovativeness.Creativity in this regard is understood as the ability & power todevelop new ideas.Innovation generally implies the application of such ideas.Creativity & innovation therefore emphasises the new way of doingthings.Once goals have been agreed upon and new priorities determined,innovation is needed.It is within this context that development administration as aninstrumentality of government, lays emphasis on the adoption ofnew structures, procedures, policies, plans and programmes whichwill help in achieving developmental objectives with the greatestpossible facilitation.
Elements
• Responsiveness & accountabilityThe traditional administrative system was criticisedfor the simple reason that administrators tended tobe routine minded, stagnant and generally lackingin the enthusiasm and ability for innovation.DA requires administrators who are dynamic,innovative & development conscious enough toperform their duties in the administration ofdevelopment.DA is therefore required to be responsive andaccountable.
Elements
• People-centred administrationDA must be people centred because it is aimed at servingthe needs & interests of the people.This is because development programmes & projects aredesigned by planners and administrators with the aim ofbenefiting people.It is within this context that DA seeks to putadministrators with requisite capacities to mediate &respond to substantive demands from members of thepublic.DA must consistently respond to the growing demands,challenges & expectations from the people.
Development Constraints in developing countries
• Colonial & western pattern of development
• Lack of skilled personnel & administrative staff
• Centralised bureaucratic structures
• Inadequate political will & support to improve administrative systems
• Multiplicity of administrative agencies
• Limited public participation
• Lack of motivation
• Corruption
Further Reading
For further reading on this thematic area, studentsare strongly advised to consult the followingsources:
Chapter 3, Sapru, RK (2002)DevelopmentAdministration
Chapter 13 & 14, National Planning Commission(2012) National Development Plan
Chapter 2, Kotze, D.A (1997) DevelopmentAdministration & Management: A holistic approach.Pretoria: Van Schaik
THE IDEA OF DEVELOPMENTAL STATE
Introduction
• There is a considerable debate in South Africa as wellas in many developing countries about the prospects offuture development.
• This debate largely emanates from the realisation thatthe current development path pursued by these statesdoes not yield the desired benefits for the majority ofthe population of the third world.
• Development in most of these countries is said to bestagnant.
• The discussion seeks to introduces students on thecurrent debate concerned with the challenge ofbuilding a developmental state in South Africa.
Conceptualisation of the notion of Developmental state
• The concept of a developmental state has become a mantrafor government officials, policy makers and academics(Andani, 2012).
• This is understandable because the usage of the concept inthe Public Administration discourse in South Africa is fairlynew.
• There was no mention of the concept in the discourse thatshaped and guided the multi-party negotiation process inthe early 1990s
• This is in spite of reports that the ANC, one of the majorplayers in the negotiations, had entertained ideas that areassociated with a developmental state while in exile
Cont’
• This consideration should, as Maserumule (2012)argues, encourage us to ask questions as follows:-– Why did the concept of DS vanished from the
discourse in spite of the fact it occupied the centrestage of the discourse in exile?
– Were the national democratic and reconciliationprojects more important than a developmentalproject?
– Was this a missed opportunity on part of the ANC toseize their strategic political advantage of thenegotiation process to forge a consensus on adevelopmental state and its vision?
Cont’
• DS has generated a widespread debate amongpolicy makers and academics.
• To better understand the gist of the currentthinking on developmental state, it is ofcritical importance that the originative contextof term be established.
(cont’)
• According to Madumo (2012), the currentthinking on the discourse of a developmentalstate originated in East Asia in the 20thCentury.
• The concept of a developmental state wascoined by Chalmers Johnson in 1982 (Dlamini,2008; Kauzya, 2008; Dassah, 2011) to describeJapan’s successful “development scenario andindustrial process” (Dassah, 2011: 590).
(cont’)
• Johnson’s description primarily appreciates andacknowledges the critical and transformative role played byan “active and interventionist” state (Dassah, 2011: 590 &Tsheola, 2012) of Japan in leading and directing asuccessful and impressive development trajectory.
• Johnson credits the Japanese state, and not the marketforces, for the country’s high and sustained economicgrowth rates and development that has contributedimmensely towards realising the development needs ofJapan.
• The socio-economic successes of East Asian countries havedrawn a considerable attention to the concept of adevelopmental state as a possible model for developingcountries.
What is a developmental State?
• The idea of the developmental is premised onthe centrality of the government drivingdevelopment objectives and goals of thenation through the state.
• It is not anti-capitalism but it pro-regulating /pro-intervening in the affairs of the economyin the interest of the developmental goals ofthe nation whatever they may be.
Cont’
• It is the idea that the State is the main driverof development as opposed to the idea thatfree-market is the propeller of development.
• The latter is the position of GEAR while theformer is much more related to RDP as wasthe principal policy of the ANC when it cameto power in 1994.
• A policy which was implemented until 1996when GEAR was introduced.
cont’
• The defeat of the RDP policy by the Mbeki faction withinthe ANC put the ANC and South Africa down the neo-liberalroute of today.
• The RDP policy was South Africa's signal to theinternational markets and the West that we had trulyembarked on the path towards a developmental State.
• Instead, the signal of GEAR, which substituted for andreplaced the RDP policy, which the NDP is repeating andresending, is to telegraph again to the internationalmarkets and the West (investors especially) that we remaintied to the hips to the Washington Consensus and itsneoliberal economic policy framework, and that we areopen to do business with them without caring for adevelopmental State.
Cont’
• In his Mai l& Guardian article of 2008, JoelNetshitenzhe revealed that the Mbekigovernment had already started the process ofcrafting a national developmental plan and astrategic vision, and that Mbeki's Cabinet devotedthe January 2008 Cabinet Lekgotla to discussingspecifically this issue
• Joel went on to serve on the Zuma-appointedNational Planning Commission (NPC), which cameup with the Diagnostic Report and finally theNDP.
Cont’
• So the link between GEAR and the NDP, in termsof personnel, eg Trevor Manuel and JoelNetshitenzhe, and policy thinking, eg neo-liberaleconomics, bowing before the WashingtonConsensus, and idolizing as well as sacralising themoneyed investors, all this at the expense of SA'spoor and unemployment, is more than direct
• It is complicit and explicit.
• The NDP is the proud successor of GEAR
(cont’)
• The ANC’s engagement with the notion of a DS islargely based on the constructs that describe thesocio-economic progress made by East Asiancountries in realising their developmental needs.
• DS has generated a widespread debate amongpolicy makers and academics
• However, Maserumule (2012) points out that theconcept is convoluted by the fact that it isenmeshed in numerous misconceptions.
(cont’)
• For example, the theorisation of DS in SouthAfrica is as follows:-– as a democratic state,– or that it is anti-thesis of democracy,– a service delivery state and– or that all states are developmentalThere is a general agreement that the promotion of adevelopmental state is buttressed by a strong sense ofrealisation that it could contribute immensely towardsaddressing the numerous socio-economic hardshipsfacing the significant majority of the people in SouthAfrica
Democratic developmental state
• There is a consensus in PUBA discourse on thenotion of developmental state that South Africaand indeed African countries requires the socalled a democratic developmental state (DDS)
• This is informed largely by a consideration thatthe traditional model of an autocratic DS asobserved in the East Asian examples seemsunsuitable for Africa.
• This is attributed to the fact that theirauthoritarian nature allowed for a very minimalpublic participation.
cont
• Hence, it is argued that the differencesbetween the Asian-type authoritarian DS andwhat some scholars increasingly refer to asDDS should be noted and be considered to beof critical importance.
• It is desirable for African countries to consideradopting and implementing DSs that aredemocratic, particularly in terms of allowingspace for public and civic engagement
Cont’
• The other argument that is made about thenecessity of creating a DS is that all the countriesthat are presently considered in terms of thedominant paradigm, have also benefited fromstate-led injection of vital resources in their initialstages of development.
• Interestingly, the same countries are today, thechampions and advocates of free-market andneo-liberalism
• DS model seem to be the most appropriate forAfrica not only because of its appeal to mostcountries.
• It is seen as the most effective vehicle forundertaking positive and fundamental changeswithout merely relying on the proverbial notionof the “invisible hand of the market”
• This understandable because much of thecontinent consists of largely poor, agrarian andunderdeveloped countries that undoubtedlyrequire significant state intervention and support
Cont’
• It is important to caution however that thiswill not happen without onslaught fromdeveloped countries and financial institutionssuch as the IMF, World Bank etc.
• This is understandable considering theenormous influence of developed countrieson the development trajectory of developingcountries
Questions to Ponder
• Comprehensively discuss the origin of thenotion of a developmental state
• Explain the misconceptions associated withthe theorisation of the notion of adevelopmental state in South Africa
• Why is it necessary foe African countries to theorise developmental state as democratic developmental state?
THANK YOU