The book is a collection of papers presented at NISPAcee's 14th annual conference, held in Ljubljana during May 2006. The main theme of the conference was rebuilding the professionalism and accountability in the administration of states in transition from highly-protected state-trading systems to the pressures of competitive markets and pluralist democracy.
The paper-givers of the conference: educators, researchers and practitioners arriving from different functional territories of public administration and public policy successfully enriched the discussion and collective knowledge about key issues like the aspects of the administrative reform process itself, and the shortcomings of techical assistance by external development agencies for promotion of good governance in CEE and CIS states.
During the last decade all states in Europe have to some degree faced challenges of an increased complexity of policy issues, and new burdens arising from the processes of globalisation and European integration. The experience of Bulgaria, as of other former communist states in Central and Eastern Europe, shows that in period of transition the capacity for policy formulation and implementation is crucial for the transformation of the country. To facilitate this process two major requirements are: adequate capacity for political leadership; and firm institutional arrangements.
Excerpt from "Capacity for Policy Implementation in the Central Government of Bulgaria" by Polya Katsamunska, Department of Public Administration and Regional Development, University of National and World Economy.
David Coomber (editor)
David Coombes is Professor Emeritus (European Studies) of the University of Limerick, Ireland, and Visiting Fellow at the Governance Research Centre in the Department of Politics, University of Bristol, UK. During a long career as a teacher, author and consultant in European politics and public affairs, he has published extensively as well as lectured, and given high-level advice to policy-makers throughout the region of CEE and the CIS.
László Vass (editor)
László Vass is Associate Professor Corvinus University of Budapest, Institute of Political Science, Hungary