Pro Publico Bono – Public Administration

Smart Resilience and EU Enlargement Policy

2023-07-25T11:28:55+02:00

The European Union’s enlargement policy is an ever-changing policy area. Today, its flexibility is illustrated by an ever more diverse set of entry rules. In the half-century since the first round of enlargement, the transposition of thousands of pages of legislation has been accompanied by the harmonisation of laws and the incorporation of other values, along with indicators of economic maturity. In the wake of the first two enlargements, the credibility of the European Union was under threat in the eyes of the political elite and society in the applicant countries, and reforms were introduced to avoid disillusionment. The sluggishness of enlargement in the Western Balkans and the aftermath of recent Russian aggression in Ukraine have redefined the course of enlargement policy with any significant acceleration yet to occur.

Focus Group Discussion as a Method of Data Collection in Higher Education and Related Fields

2023-10-25T17:54:31+02:00

This article sets out to report our first-hand experience with using focus groups as a method of data collection in higher education research. We were interested in shedding light on how university lecturers coped with remote teaching during the Covid pandemic and how the unusual circumstances affected their teaching. The analysis of the resulting data is still ongoing. In this study, we summarise our experiences of using the focus group methodology in our research. By discussing and evaluating our research experiences, we aim to demonstrate the usability and the potential risks of the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in a higher education context by identifying further areas of application, such as for supporting the development of the education system. We argue that the main characteristic of FGD is its interactive nature, and we back this claim by providing a detailed presentation of the focus group methodology, as well as by describing and analysing the experiences of group discussions conducted with the involvement of university lecturers. Due to their interactive nature, focus group discussions are particularly suitable for research on educational methodology, specifically within the training system for public officials operated by the Ludovika University of Public Service (LUPS) in Budapest, Hungary since 2013. The focus group research method can be used either as a tool for quality assurance or as a tool for assessing training needs. Our study is highly relevant for those who are planning to conduct focus group research in a higher education context or in related fields such as adult education programmes, by providing practical recommendations.

The Role of ICT in Refugee Governance in Bangladesh

2024-11-22T16:36:10+01:00

The study discusses the evolving role of information and communication technology (ICT) in refugee crisis management, transitioning from a humanitarian to an enabling model. The focus is on how ICT contributes to education, self-reliance, skill development and entrepreneurship among refugees, marking a shift in the paradigm of how refugee crises are addressed. The study, centred in Bangladesh, explores the intricate connection between ICT and the governance of refugee landscapes. It delves into questions about how ICT ensures safety and dignity for refugees in camps during transitory settlement, as well as considering its impact on future refugee management and resettlement. The research, conducted through content analysis and based on secondary data, reveals that ICT interventions offer comprehensive benefits. They create a platform involving various stakeholders, emphasising a trade-off in Rohingya refugee governance, providing geo-localised support, aiding in adverse situations, and identifying harmonised ideas for coordinated actions. The article aims to present a concise snapshot of ICT’s current role, its potential, ongoing strategies, and possibilities for achieving easier, cheaper and better outcomes for refugees.

Rethinking Max Weber. Premodern Interpretations of Weber in Critical Focus

2023-06-12T15:11:15+02:00

This study examines criticisms of Max Weber by Leo Strauss and Mihály Polányi. When we claim that we act on the basis of moral considerations, the same is true for the case when we judge others on a moral basis, and in these cases, we also refer to generally recognised moral standards that we consider to be valid. Are these premodern interpretations of Weber critiques or indictments? Namely: the criticism of objectivity, criticism of historicism and criticism of positivism. Analysing Max Weber, we cannot go beyond Rudolph Sohm’s concept of charisma and Weber’s charisma. Weber was greatly influenced by Sohm, from whom the concept of charisma comes. Indeed, Weber perfected Sohm’s concept of charisma, but also adapted it to his own. Neither Polányi nor Strauss find the theory developed by Weber to be completely consistent. The Weberian system of ideas requires renewal, the steps of which are embodied in the criticism of the two authors Mihály Polányi and Leo Strauss. In this study, I undertake to give the body an understanding soul in which both criticism and the Weberian system of ideas meet.

The Legal and State Theory Problem of Federal Somalia in the 21st Century

2023-06-12T17:15:06+02:00

Somalia is one of the most unstable states in Africa, and this instability is the result of power-political rivalries, due to the historical influences of different eras. Three separate entities with the capacity to influence the state can be distinguished: the oldest is the Somali clan system and hence the clans, followed by the current end product of the significant Islamic expansion in the region, the jihadist organisation al-Shabaab, and finally the Somali government, which is the main enforcer of the federal state apparatus. My aim is to examine the triad’s relationship and the extent of their power from a legal and state-theoretical perspective, which requires a descriptive analysis of the actors in order to reveal their legal and state-theoretical implications. The study concludes that all three actors are in varying relationships with each other, which may be a hostile relationship or a state of dependency, and this is at the root of Somalia’s instability, the resolution of which will be a long-term process.

Urban Land Management System in Ethiopia: an Empirical Study of Policy Implementation

2023-06-12T17:21:45+02:00

This study aims to assess urban land management in Ethiopia from a policy perspective. A mixed approach with a concurrent nested strategy was employed. A total of 353 questionnaires were collected from civil servants and clients of urban land management systems, 8 focus group discussions (FGDs) with civil servants, and 24 interviews with experts, middle and top managers were conducted. The data were analysed and presented using logistic and multiple regressions. The results indicated that urban land management in Ethiopia continues to employ outdated and traditional systems. The main reasons for the unsatisfactory state of urban land management in the country are lack of commitment, lack of human resources, political influence, maladministration, instability of rules, etc. These factors are hampering the effective management of urban land in Ethiopia. Hence, people are not satisfied with the service of urban land management. Thus, the regional governments must reconsider the policy, employ an automated system, and work to address the identified problems.

Alternative Dispute Resolution in Public Procurement Focusing on Hungary

2023-10-10T16:39:08+02:00

In public procurement frameworks, bidding, contracting and performing contracts is notoriously more challenging than the bidding, contracting and performance of private contracts. The strict procedures of public procurement do not tolerate mistakes and reduce the possibility of compromise if conflicts arise.

This study examines whether the resolution of disputes arising in public procurement procedures with the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods can be integrated into the strict system of public procurement regulation. It also investigates whether the use of ADR can be justified in public procurement disputes at all, and whether it can handle them effectively. During our investigation, we reviewed the so-called preliminary dispute settlement (PDS) scheme, a special institution of Hungarian public procurement law. Although this mechanism is not a form of dispute resolution in the classical sense, since it does not involve consultation and does not result in compromise at all, the PDS process, as a widely used, quick and simple electronic procedure is an accepted formula in Hungary for settling public procurement procedure conflicts.

Measuring the Implementation of Deliberative Practices in Decision-Making

2024-01-23T10:05:23+01:00

According to deliberative democracy theories, decisions taken by citizens through deliberation have greater legitimacy for those concerned. It may therefore be worth examining to what extent and at what level the decisions and recommendations of deliberative bodies are taken into account in the decision-making process of a given country. The paper presents a metric which, based on the analysis of specific aspects – the embeddedness of already implemented practices in decision-making, their deliberative level and the scope of the practices – indicates the extent to which a given country applies the results of deliberative bodies’ deliberations to the decision-making process. The metric was tested on a sample of 27 EU Member States and four groups were identified in terms of the embeddedness of deliberative practices in decision-making: Laggards, Emergers, Aspirers and Exemplaries.

Perspectives on Sustainable Projects Aligned with UN Development Goals

2024-01-23T11:23:14+01:00

Sustainability has emerged as a paramount global concern in the 21^st century, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) stand at the forefront of the efforts to address it. This study delves into the profound implications of these SDGs for sustainable projects carried out by organisations. Sustainable projects are those that align with the principles and objectives outlined in the SDGs, thereby contributing to a more inclusive and environmentally responsible future. By attempting to achieve these goals, sustainable projects not only mitigate environmental degradation but also foster economic development and social progress. This study explores the critical link between sustainable projects of organisations and the SDGs, whether the projects have contradictory impacts or just the opposite, they can also strengthen each other. The hypothetical assumption is that there is tension between the goals and actions of contradictory and synergistic movements. The transformative power of sustainable projects is underscored through real-world examples and case studies, showcasing how they can address complex, interconnected challenges. The literature review lends support to the hypothesis that in some cases certain sustainable goals might confront each other. A pilot study methodology employing impact measurement is used to prove the hypotheses about how the goals support and contribute to or affect each other’s results. The results underscore the essential role of sustainable projects. The conclusion also highlights the critical need for research and project development that can effectively navigate the tension between contradictory and synergistic goals within the SDG.

Safeguards of Fair Trial in Constitutional Court Proceedings: Efficient Access to Justice as a Key Factor

2024-05-17T16:00:25+02:00

The right to fair trial, which is usually described as an essential starting point of the protection of human rights, as a basic safeguard of the rule of law, as a general principle of EU law and as a certain quality of procedure, plays a crucial role in defining the framework of judicial proceedings in the European states both in criminal and civil matters. The current paper examines how the concept of fair trial applies to constitutional court proceedings, with special regard to the safeguards of an efficient access to such procedures. The study raises questions like: What cornerstones for an efficient access can be identified in the case-law? What are the most typical obstacles of obtaining a decision by a constitutional court? How can a more efficient access to these procedures be promoted? The analysis offers a synthesis of the theoretical background and the general requirements identified by the relevant international and European fora (complemented by references to the related jurisprudence of the constitutional courts of certain EU Member States). This way the study can give useful insights not only into the understanding of the concept of fair trial but also into the possibilities of enhancing the efficiency of constitutional court proceedings.