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Blockchain for an efficient public administration
Full text linkThe beginning of the 21st century shows us an increase in the complexity of all systems. Some states have already implemented national strategies for artificial intelligence and the action plan for high technologies to solve problems of different natures. The challenge of the century is to find new solutions permanently that contribute to the adaptation and development of organizations. In the last decade, blockchain has won the interest of several governments around the world for implementing this new technology in the public sector. In this paper we want to analyze how this tool has been applied in various states and how it can contribute to solving data management problems. Our purpose is to show the importance of using blockchain for interoperability in public organizations in Romania. The use of blockchain involves a new reform of the public administration and the adoption of new regulations
Profiles and Careers of State Secretaries in the 132nd Government of Romania
Full text linkThis paper investigates the profiles and careers of State Secretaries – dignitaries from the central public administration who help ministers in the management of the ministries in which they carry out their activity, officials that in Romania are considered the second echelon of power of the Romanian executive branch. The aim is to expand the scope of studies on the Romanian political elites and to contribute to the broadening of knowledge regarding the careers of politicians in the second echelon of power, elite studies carried out by the work of Stefan (2009) and Iancu (2017). The study will identify certain patterns that underlie the selection process of state secretaries, advancing the knowledge of the career paths of top Romanian politicians. Focusing on State Secretaries appointed after the formation of the 132nd government, on November 25, 2021, the present paper acknowledges that, according to the Administrative Code of Romania, state secretaries have an important role in the development of government policies and strategies. Given the critical role of governmental elites in outlining public policies and in adapting their countries to a changing international environment, marked by contingencies and structural crises, both the public and the academic interest in the state secretaries’ profiles and access to power is high (ªtefan, 2009). I expect to find different profiles and career paths, according to their age, gender, academic profile, previous occupations, the influence of political sponsors, party credentials, and of previous positions held in various public institutions. The information is gathered from public sources: resumes, official pages of ministries, and public media information. Based on the public information, the study reveals that previous experience in public institutions or being a member of the County Council are common traits among politically affiliated state secretaries and that professional and managerial skills are important assets when analysing appointments in the positions of state secretaries of politically unaffiliated persons, the so-called technocrats (Stefan, 2018)
Digital Democracy and the Growing Threat of Illiberalism. Opportunities and Limitations as Reflected by the Estonian Case
Full text linkCurrently, the fourth and fifth waves of the industrial revolution are shaping the global political, economic, and social landscape. The development of robotics, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality (VR), doubled by the emerging importance of renewable energy sources, is redefining the relationship between the state and the citizen. In this context, the frequency of arguments that plead for an adaptation of the liberal democratic model to the digital environment is increasing. However, the latest developments in this field are also facilitating the spreading of populist and radical messages. Digital innovation is therefore, in many countries, contemporaneous with a process of democratic backsliding. Our paper represents a preliminary attempt to estimate the potential impact of digitalizing the political and social spheres on the stability of liberal democratic regimes. Answers to the questions put forward are provided by analyzing the digital evolution of politics and society in Estonia. We highlight data linked not only to topics such as online voting, participatory budgeting, or digital skills but also data regarding political participation and democratic resilience. Our conclusions suggest that, although building a genuine digital democracy can have positive effects on the level of political and civic involvement of citizens, in order to annihilate the danger of illiberalism, an improvement in the levels of trust in public institutions is also needed. Trust is a vital factor for blocking disinformation and ensuring that digital tools are not hijacked by populist groups with authoritarian tendencies
The Political Crisis in Bulgaria /2021–2023/: Internal and External Consequences
Full text linkThe article examines the political crisis of Bulgarian political society (2021-2023), through the categories of trust and mistrust in politics and their implementation in real politics. Within 24 months, five early parliamentary elections in Bulgaria were held. Analysis is provided on internal (complete mistrust among political actors, non-forming a Cabinet, change of the agenda of the society by the political elite, steps to a new role of Caretaker government and the President, citizens’ electoral participation) and external (the political respond towards the war Ukraine-Russia, the implementation of Bulgaria’s Recovery and resilience plan, the postponement of Bulgaria’s accession to Schengen and the country’s preparations for joining the euro area) consequences
The Evolution of Serbian Foreign Policy under Vucic: Navigating between the European Union and Russia
Full text linkThis comprehensive analysis delves into the evolution of Serbian foreign policy under the leadership of Aleksandar Vucic, elucidating the nation’s endeavours to navigate the complex interplay of interests and alignments that define its relationships with both the European Union and Russia. The study examines the historical context, Vucic’s rise to power, Serbia’s interactions with the EU and Russia, and the challenges and opportunities associated with the nation’s balancing act. It highlights the pragmatic, adaptive, and strategically autonomous approach to international relations that has characterized Vucic’s foreign policy legacy, while also considering potential trajectories for Serbia’s foreign policy in the post-Vucic era. In conclusion, the study offers recommendations for future research on Serbian foreign policy and international relations, emphasizing the need to explore the various factors that may influence the nation’s future alignment with the EU or Russia, as well as the domestic political dynamics, regional geopolitics, economic imperatives, and security concerns that may impinge upon Serbia’s strategic calculus
The Environmental Challenge to More Open Borders
Full text linkIn this paper, I examine the case for immigration restrictions by formulating and discussing three environmental objections to a justice-based argument for more open borders. The objection from the right to healthy environment claims that increased immigration to developed states will result in overpopulation and states must restrict immigration in order to respect the basic human right to a healthy environment. The objection from global environmental effects claims that restrictions on immigration are justified in order to limit the total output of greenhouse gases emitted by developed states. The objection from the global commons claims that a more open border regime threatens the feasibility of policies that seek to control the growth of population in developing countries. I argue that all three versions of the environmental challenge fail to establish their conclusions and that the case for more open borders cannot be counteracted on these grounds
E-government Stages and the Romanian Public Sector – The Pension System Case
Full text linkE-government has been, for the past 20 years, one of the main fields of study for researchers following transformation in the public administration systems, the most important and visible one after the New Public Management. Since 2001, many papers have tried to establish o list of stages one should follow in order to observe the process a public organization goes through in its journey to digitalizing public services.
This paper will review four of the most important and universally accepted models, from the Layne and Lee (2001) complex model, to the Gartner (Baum & DiMaio, 2000) specific one, in order to decide which one best applies in practice and can actually be used to analyse a public organization and its process towards digitalization, and which ones apply better to the general public system, like the one proposed by Moon (2002).
In order to have a specific example and apply the theoretical models in practice, this paper will be presenting the case of the public pension system in Romania, through its local Houses of Public Pensions and their level of digitalization, when it comes to public services and public interaction with people who benefit from their services.
I will begin by presenting the context in which e-government appeared and why is it so important in the development of any public administration of the 21st century, the main differences between the stage models mentioned above, and the arguments presented for applying one of them in our current study, followed by the methodology used to observe the characteristics of the digitalization process in the Public House of Pension of Brasov city, Romania.
The results of the study will be applied on the stages mentioned above in order to determine which stage are we currently talking about and how well the model can be applied in practice
Challenges for Upscaling Green Public Procurement in Romania
Full text linkIn the context of adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, green public procurement has gained much importance for achieving the targets set by Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12. Although green public procurement (GPP) is a voluntary instrument, the strategic EU framework set by the European Green Deal indicates that, at least for specific products with considerable impact on climate change, the contracting authorities shall have to use green criteria in tenders. This research aims to explain the factors influencing the adoption of GPP rules, their implementation, and the actual use percentage in Romania employing questionnaires answered by Romanian contracting authorities, interviews with public procurement officers and documentary analysis of the tender books published between 2018 and 2022 for three products regulated by the Romanian GPP Guide. The results of this research indicate that more than half of the respondents have never used the GPP criteria set by the Romanian government or the ones elaborated by the European Commission. The thorough verification of the technical specifications for the products mentioned in the Romanian GPP Guide shows that roughly only 20% of the tenders published between 2018-2022 are green. The main finding is that the principal factor that explains the small percentage of GPP in Romania is the absence of mandatory requirements and targets for GPP. Although the public procurement clerks are slightly aware of GPP’s importance, the lack of training, knowledge, skills and, furthermost, the absence of a strategic GPP approach and leadership support make achieving the neutrality targets using this environmental policy tool a slow and laborious process
Politics of Left Populism in Power. The Institutional Challenge of Podemos
Full text linkThis paper is inserted in the analytical framework that focuses on the participation of populist forces in governments. It aims to contribute to the scientific debate analysing the left-wing populist in power in Europe.
One of the most exemplary case is undoubtedly ‘Podemos’that, since January 2020, has been part of the Sánchez II government in Spain. It is interesting to understand how this political subject that is born in response to the economic, political and social 2008 crisis and that defined itself as anti-system as to be the system. Further, starting from its integration into the institutional system, it will be analysed the role it covers within the government and the practical results achieved. Then, this will also allow the analysis of the change of left-wing forces in the European context.
The analysis of the Podemos participation in government focuses on a particular moment of the European and world context, i.e., during and after the Covid-19 crisis. The aim is to show whether Podemos, once in government, carries out policies responsive to the main cleavages that characterise its discourse and what effects on the political context. The analysis will be carried out by comparing the most representative policies of Podemos’ ministries and through semi-structured interviews conducted between May and November 2022 with leading members of the party and Spanish government
Populism, Identity Politics, and the Challenge of Counter Anti-Black and Anti-Muslim Populism: A Comprehensive Analysis
Full text linkThis paper presents an in-depth investigation into the intricate dynamics between socio-political crises, Black and Muslim social groups, and the escalating support for Populism and populist movements within the context of contemporary France. Our study seeks to unveil the direct and distinct correlations that exist between these minority communities and the surge of Populism while empirically scrutinising the underlying relationships between socioeconomic, cultural, and political integration and the rise of populist sentiments.
The research delves into the complex landscape of Populism, encompassing its various manifestations and identifying how socio-political crises provide fertile ground for populist appeals. By exploring the intricate interplay between these elements, our study contributes to an enhanced understanding of the multifaceted nature of Populism within diverse social contexts. The paper’s theoretical framework is rooted in the theory of Populism, the principles of intersectionality and the analysis of the relationship between world-feelings and populist support. Methodologically, we take a comprehensive approach based on quantitative and data collection methods. Thus, we empirically examine the relationship between socioeconomic, cultural, and political integration and whether the link between these factors is related to Populism and political radicalisation.
The results reveal intricate correlations between integration and the prevalence of populist sentiments, highlighting the role of socioeconomic and cultural factors and political engagement in shaping these dynamics. This article not only contributes to the academic understanding of populism and minority politics but also offers practical implications