Government transparency: paradoxes and dilemmas

Abstract

ABSTRACT Over the last three decades, the concept of government transparency has remained at the forefront of ongoing public debate. Using a systematic literature review of 470 articles on government transparency, this article identifies eight paradoxes and dilemmas related to government transparency including regulation, public safety, media interpretation, collaborative governance, functional ability, risk-taking, privacy, and personal interpretation. We then propose a comprehensive framework on how to reconcile these paradoxes and dilemmas towards achieving better transparency outcomes and ultimately effective public administration.