What Lies Ahead for the Administrative State?

Abstract

What may well be in store for the administrative state can be deduced from the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 50/225, and from the deliberations of the latest meetings of experts in public administration and finance convened by the United Nations. On 19 April 1996, the resumed session on Public Administration and Development of the United Nations General Assembly adopted GA Resolution 50/225, which (a) reaffirmed that democracy and transparent and accountable governance and administration in all sectors of society were indispensable foundations for social and people-centred sustainable development; (b) recognised that there was a need for public administration systems to be sound, efficient and equipped with the appropriate capacities and capabilities; (c) reaffirmed that governments in all countries should promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to development; and (d) reconfirmed the importance of and called for the enhancement of the effectiveness of United Nations activities in the area of public administration and development, particularly

• (a) strengthening government capacity for policy development, administrative restructuring, civil service reform, human-resources development and public-administration training;

• (b) improving performance in the public sector;

• (c) financial management;

• (d) public-private interaction;

• (e) social development;

• (f) developing infrastructure and protecting the environment;

• (g) government legal capacity;

• (h) post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction of government machinery; and

• (i) management of development programmes.