Governance System Research Articles

RESTRUCTURING IN PUBLIC SECTOR: FROM ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT TO SMART GOVERNMENT IN TÜRKİYE

Upon the development of information and communication technologies (ICTs), countries embarked on a structuring process in the public sector in order to provide faster and more efficient services. Acting positively towards technological developments in the public sector, Türkiye started digital transformation reform studies and developed “e-Government applications” especially in the recent years. In this context, during the transition to the Presidential Government System, Türkiye established the Digital Transformation Office (DTO), which is considered the most important stage of the smart government (s-Government). With the establishment of DTO, the transition process from “e-Government” to “s-Government” has started and radical changes have taken place in the Turkish public administration. With this office, consolidation of the coordination functions under the same entity was aimed regarding the issues such as cyber security, critical infrastructures, big data and artificial intelligence. By considering the associated changes in the public sector along with the development of technology, this study attempts to examine the functions and structure of DTO, which played an effective role in the transition from “e-Government” to “s-Government” in Türkiye.

Fundamentals of legislation in autonomous artificial intelligence systems

The paper proposes a method for defining a dedicated operational context as part of the development and deployment of autonomous corporate governance systems. The case study of autonomous board of directors systems is examined. A significant part of the operational context for the autonomous corporate governance systems consists of the regulatory and legal framework that regulates the company’s operations. A special operational context for autonomous artificial intelligence systems can be defined by simultaneously formulating local regulatory documents in two versions, i.e., to be used by people and by autonomous systems. In such a case, the artificial intelligence system receives a clearly defined operational context that allows such a system to perform its functions with a required operational quality. Local regulations that take into account the specificity of operations involving individuals and autonomous artificial intelligence systems can become the foundation of the relevant legislation that would regulate the development and deployment of autonomous systems.

The politics of beneficiary selection: A case study of Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) cash transfer programme

In communities of Sub-Saharan Africa, where local elites participate in the selection of households for cash transfers, there is a tendency to deviate from laid down rules for various reasons. Using qualitative data from selected districts where Ghana’s Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme is implemented, this study investigates the reasons why district and community elites deviate from prescribed selection processes of the LEAP programme. Drawing on the concept of competitive clientelism, the findings suggest that elites are deeply guided by political patronage to fulfil one primary goal, protecting their role in office. Such ambition is facilitated by the discretionary power accorded to elites by the local government system and socio-cultural values deeply rooted in Ghanaian society. In conclusion, the study draws out key lessons from the analysis and suggests a design of beneficiary selection frameworks that acknowledges the nature of domestic politics, institutions of power and powerful actors at the subnational level. The article also highlights the implications of the findings for the broad politics of social protection literature.

Examining sustained sub-national health system development: experience from the Western Cape Province, South Africa, 1994-2016.

Governance and leadership are recognized as central to health system development in low- and middle-income countries, yet few existing studies consider the influence of multilevel governance systems. South Africa is one of the many (quasi-)federal states. Provincial governments have responsibility for managing health care delivery within national policy frameworks and norms. The early post-apartheid period saw country-wide efforts to address the apartheid legacy of health system inequity and inefficiency, but health system transformation subsequently stalled in many provinces. In contrast, the Western Cape provincial health department sustained service delivery reform and strengthened management processes over the period 1994-2016. This department can be considered a 'pocket of relative bureaucratic effectiveness': an organizational entity that, compared to others, is relatively effective in carrying out its functions in pursuit of the public good. This paper considers what factors enabled the development of the Western Cape health system in the period 1994-2016. Two phases of data collection entailed document review, participatory workshops, 43 in-depth interviews with purposively selected key informants from inside and outside the Western Cape and a structured survey testing initial insights (response rate 42%). Analysis included triangulation across data sets, comparison between the Western Cape and other provincial experience and deeper reflection on these experiences drawing on POE theory and public administration literature. The analysis highlights the Western Cape experience of stable and astute sub-national governance and leadership and the deepening of administrative and technical capacity over time-within a specific provincial historical and political economy context that sustained the separation of political and administrative powers. Multilevel governance systems can create the space for sub-national POEs to emerge in their mediation of wider political economy forces, generating spaces for skilled reform leaders to act in the public interest, support the emergence of distributed leadership and develop robust management processes.

Participatory communication in the provision of development services in the Ghanaian decentralised government system: evidence from the Central Region

This paper explores citizens’ views regarding the application of participatory communication in the delivery of development services within the decentralised government system of Ghana. The participatory theory informed the core issues of this study. Data were obtained from 309 inhabitants selected from three administrative areas in the Central Region using the quota sampling technique. Questionnaires and researcher-administered survey were used to gather data and analysed using means, standard deviations, Kruskal Wallis test, independent samples t-test, and one-way ANOVA. The study revealed that issues of empowerment were moderately applied in development services. Again, people-centred approaches to the delivery of development services were lowly considered. Overall, participatory communication principles have not received adequate attention during the delivery of development services. The situation was the same across the three-tier decentralised government system. Despite their educational differences, respondents expressed similar opinions on the application of participatory development principles. Participatory communication faced challenges like the absence of well-trained development communicators, inadequate resources, low motivation on the part of local representatives, a low sense of ownership, and an absence of clear institutional policies on communication. The paper outlines key practical implications of the findings, including the need for governments to set up the necessary institutional framework to aid the incorporation of participatory communication techniques into the development strategies of Assemblies.

Nexus among climate change, food systems, and human health: An interdisciplinary research framework in the Global South

This article unravels the intricate connections between climate change, food systems, and human health, offering a comprehensive exploration within a concise framework focused on the Global South. The contemporary crisis stemming from the mass production model, emphasising climate change and public health repercussions, is a focal point. We highlight food production as an important driver of climate change, significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock and staple crops exert varied environmental impacts. We scrutinise the implications of land-use changes, emphasising the imperative to curtail agricultural expansion into forested areas. Central to our analysis is the role of governance systems. We advocate for a multi-level, polycentric governance approach integrating health considerations with ecology and socio-economic drivers. By exploring the nuances of gender, age, and ethnicity, we underscore the need for a climate transition guided by climate justice principles. Finally, we discuss methodological challenges in researching the complex nexus of food systems, climate change, and health. We navigate the limitations of disciplinary boundaries and traditional analytical methods, urging an interdisciplinary approach for a comprehensive understanding. Our work aims to contribute to a holistic perspective, informing policy-making and action to build a resilient and sustainable future, especially in the Global South.

Firms growth opportunities and accruals earnings management nexus: does corporate and national governance systems play a role?

Firms growth opportunities and accruals earnings management nexus: does corporate and national governance systems play a role?

Using linked administrative data to describe a cohort of young people who have a parent with a history of homelessness (Study 1)

ObjectiveLittle is known about the children of parents who experience homelessness. The At Home/Chez Soi (AHCS) Research Demonstration Project, launched in 2009, was a Canadian multi-site, multi-year study that tested the effectiveness of Housing First. In Winnipeg, 513 people were enrolled, of whom 47% were parents. Our objective was to determine how the children were faring with respect to their health and social situations at a time their parent was experiencing homelessness. ApproachThe cohort, created using the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy’s familial linkage methodology, consisted of 405 individuals (< 30 years old) who were the offspring of the Winnipeg AHCS cohort. We descriptively summarized the socioeconomic characteristics and indicators of their involvement (or lack thereof) in various government systems at or in a period up to their parent’s study enrolment date. ResultsApproximately half of the cohort were female (51%) and under 13 years (52%). Most (76%) resided in a household that had received income assistance. At least 50% had been placed into care at or near birth and only 17% had not been involved with the child welfare system. Of those school aged, 81% were enrolled in school and of those older than school aged, 53% had graduated. Nearly half (49%) had been diagnosed with a mental health disorder and/or with asthma (47%). Conclusions and ImplicationsThis study is the first in a series seeking to identify ways to prevent multigenerational experiences of homelessness. Findings will generate valuable insights for upstream intervention across various systems.

Alþingi og framkvæmdarvaldið

Samskipti og staða Alþingis gagnvart framkvæmdarvaldinu kemur oft til umræðu. Hér er rannsakað með eigindlegum aðferðum hvernig þingmenn og ráðherrar upplifa aðstöðu þessara þátta ríkisvaldsins við lagasetningu. Fram kemur að Alþingis hefur virkt neitunarvald. Það er hjá mismörgum aðilum eftir fjölda ríkisstjórnarflokka; hjá þingflokki ráðherrans, samstarfsflokki/samstarfsflokkum hans og hjá stjórnarandstöðunni. Allir beita þeir því valdi í einhverjum mæli eftir aðstæðum bæði fyrir og í þinglegri meðferð mála. Flestir viðmælendur telja sig meðvitaða um mikið vald Alþingis í lagasetningunni. Þingið ætti að geta aukið það enn frekar með upptöku norræna módelsins til fulls (samningalýðræði), sú breyting eykur líka samfélagsleg gæði; það getur líka bætt vinnubrögð stjórnkerfisins sem heildar við lagasetningu með breytingum á staðsetningu verkefna (fært þau fyrr í feril mála), sem ætti ekki að hafa áhrif á völd þess - og styrkt stöðu sína varðandi dagskrá mála.

The Respectful Terminologies Platform Project and Envisioning Indigenous Governance

This paper will discuss the Respectful Terminologies Platform Project (RTPP), a project focused on creating a system of Indigenous terminologies, and questions of governance within cataloging and other descriptive practices. As an emerging Indigenous-lead project created through years of advocacy work, RTPP is engaged in work to vision a means of Indigenous vocabulary development focused on community governance and protocols. At the same time, existing governance systems for terminology and vocabulary systems such as the Library of Congress, and the Canadian Subject Headings, and projects such as the Homosaurus serve as examples of different models of governance. This paper will explore concepts of governance, the role of UNDRIP in systems of terminology, and Principles such as CARE. Woven throughout the paper will be moments to envision a system which human rights as the central guiding consideration for systems of terminology.

Changing education landscapes and (in)equality in Wales: An exploration of barriers to tertiary education using linked UK Census and education data

ObjectiveThe Wales Commission for Tertiary Education and Research (CTER) was created in 2024 to oversee a complex system of training and education for adults and young people. The objective of our research was to examine demographic features that prevent or encourage engagement with education after formal schooling, that can be used to inform future CTER strategies. ApproachThis research considered the personal and family characteristics of learners, and evaluated differentials between characteristics in terms of enrolment, progression/exit and completion in different tertiary education settings (Sixth Forms, Further Education, and Higher Education). Using novel data linkages across 5 different data sources, we used household characteristics from the UK Census 2011 to help contextualise the experiences of learners and explore the manifestation of inequalities in the tertiary education system. ResultsThe results indicated that inequities were apparent. Gender, Special Education Needs (SEN) status, and household characteristics including disability, deprivation, socio-economic, occupational and education status’ created barriers to continued engagement in education post schooling. Conclusions and ImplicationsThe complex and disparate nature of data collections was highlighted by the research, whilst the findings offer areas and characteristics that CTER should consider when creating new initiatives or governance systems for the tertiary education sector in Wales in order to reduce persistent inequalities. Recommendations for CTER that were drawn from the research included: 1) a more cohesive approach to data collection across the tertiary sector, and 2) strategies should assess impacts for those experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage.

Disparities in Environmental Behavior from Urban–Rural Perspectives: How Socioeconomic Status Structures Influence Residents’ Environmental Actions—Based on the 2021 China General Social Survey Data

This study explores the environmental behavior disparities between urban and rural residents in China due to socioeconomic status differences amidst social governance and institutional reform. Using OLS regression models on the 2021 China General Social Survey (CGSS) data, it analyzes the impact of socioeconomic status on environmental behaviors. This study reveals that urban residents generally exhibit better environmental behaviors than rural residents. Education and income are identified as critical drivers, with education raising environmental awareness and income driving participation in environmental activities. Urban residents benefit more from these factors. The policy recommendations are for the government to enhance rural education resources and improve education quality, ensuring that education poverty alleviation policies are effectively implemented to support rural development. Simultaneously, promoting rural economic growth and narrowing the urban–rural economic gap is crucial for improving rural environmental behavior and achieving urban–rural environmental harmony. Furthermore, the results call on the international community to focus on environmental governance systems, aiming to provide references for other developing countries in formulating environmental policies, thereby promoting the creation of a more just, eco-friendly, and sustainable global development framework.

Federalising Socialism Without Doctrine

The Australian Constitution is only partly ‘liberal’ (securing political and economic liberties); another part is ‘socialist without doctrine’ (empowering governments to own and operate vast public capital, while providing social insurance in a market economy). That mixture is common in modern advanced economies but was anomalous in the Anglophone constitutional tradition in 1901. Legislative power over ‘old age and invalid pensions’, ‘railway construction’ and ‘conciliation and arbitration for the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes’ was an accepted part of the incipient Federal scheme but repugnant to Anglophone constitutional orthodoxy of the 19th century. The integration of ‘colonial socialism’ into the Constitution created one of the longest-standing puzzles in Australian jurisprudence, the Surplus Revenue Case of 1908, and laid the foundations for federal dominance of the Australian economy. Understanding the enduring impact of colonial socialism in Australian constitutionalism sheds light on how Australia’s distinctive political economy grew within a ‘Washminster’ system of government. It also provides principled guidance for future policy challenges that may require expansion of state involvement in the economy.

Free-Riding in Plant Health: A Social-Ecological Systems Approach to Collective Action.

Plant disease epidemics often transcend land management boundaries, creating a collective-action problem where a group must cooperate in a common effort to maximize individual and group benefits. Drawing upon the social-ecological systems framework and associated design principles, we review variables of resource systems, resource units, actors, and governance systems relevant to collective action in plant health. We identify a need to better characterize how attributes of epidemics determine the usefulness of collective management, what influences actors' decisions to participate, what governance systems fit different plant health threats, and how these subsystems interact to lead to plant health outcomes. We emphasize that there is not a single governance structure that ensures collective action but rather a continuum of structures that depend on the key system variables identified. An integrated social-ecological systems approach to collective action in plant health should enable institutional designs to better fit specific plant health challenges.

An Open Declaration [Openlike Verklaring] concerning the Presbyterian Church government system

The challenge posed by 18th-century rationalism to the 16th-century Reformed doctrine, initiated a trajectory in which Reformed churches assumed the responsibility of preserving the essence of the Reformation. The emergence of the Open Declaration [Openlike Verklaring] as a response to rationalism served as a call to unity and a reaffirmation of adherence to the Presbyterian Church government system established in 1618–1619. The objective of this study was to examine the significant contributions of the Open Declaration to Church Polity [Kerkreg] and the Reformed Churches of South Africa (RCSA)[Gereformeerde Kerke van Suid-Afrika (GKSA)] by focusing on three key elements: the declaration of faith and commitment; the acknowledgement of liturgical practices and ecclesiastical governance; and the plea for unity and ecclesiastical communion [Kerkverband]. Drawing on scholarly literature and relevant church documents, the analysis explores the role of the Open Declaration in shaping the identity and practices of the RCSA/GKSA within the broader context of Reformed church history. As a result of completing this study, it is discovered that the Open Declaration should be interrogated at local level and Article 48 should be read in the light of Article 29. Major assemblies should be understood from the local Church Council, Classis, regional Synod, and General Synod – not only Classis, regional Synod and General Synod.Contribution: The proposed shared understanding of the Open Declaration aims to foster a sense of unity among delegates, emphasising the importance of aligning and binding decisions made by the Church Council, Classis, Regional Synod, and General Synod during meetings. In conclusion, local churches should revisit the Public Declaration, engage in local church dialogues to promote ongoing cooperation, prioritise theological education and training to foster unity, upholding the 16th-century Reformational theology, celebrate Holy Communion in one church building, pursue Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), seeking biblical ways to address and resolve conflicts between local churches, and supplementing the mechanism provided by Article 31 of the Church Order.

What is special about the public service logic?

The article addresses the issues of the public service logic (PSL), one of the avenues of studying public and municipal administration. Developing this concept will contribute to the theory and practice of providing public services in the Russian system of state and municipal government. Methodologically, the paper rests on the provisions of public administration, as well as the concepts of service-dominant logic and public service-dominant logic. It follows the principles of methodological individualism and interdisciplinary approach that allows adding the findings of the existing economic studies to our analysis. Among the research methods applied are comparison, content analysis and systematization. We have identified the following theoretical gaps that need to be bridged to develop the PSL: first, the lack of a scientifically grounded definition of “public service value” as a form of service co-production involving the seller and the buyer, and, second, determining behavioural characteristics of employees of public (non-profit) organizations rendering credence goods-related services. Thus, the PSL outlines an important research area, namely studying value co-creation mechanisms in the public sector. The research findings can be utilized to refine public policy and produce strategic documents for the development of non-profit organizations providing public services.

Strategic priorities of regional economic development in the context of regulating non-monetary factors of inflation

A vast array of research works concentrates on such aspects of inflation processes as their essence, development factors, anti-inflationary regulation, etc., but precious few of them attempt to identify the factors of inflation in the strategic priorities of regional development. At the same time, economics and state policy at both national and regional levels recognise the significant effect of inflation on economic development. The paper deals with non-monetary factors of inflation in regions and develops a path for formulating regional policy on their regulation. The theories of regional economic development and inflation constitute the methodological framework of the study. The research methods include systematization, functional and comparative analysis, deduction. We identify the provisions of the socio-economic development strategies of the Ural macroregion’s member territories relating to the regulation of non-monetary factors in the development of inflationary processes. The identified aspects of inflation reflect the impact of its non-monetary factors on regional economic development and require anti-inflationary policy to be coupled with the areas of activity of regional authorities. We present a conceptual-logical model for framing regional policy on regulating non-monetary factors of inflation in an RF subject specifying the strategic priorities of economic development that influence regional factors of inflation. The model demonstrates that it is the state programmes of Russia’s constituent entities that are the main tool for regulating non-monetary factors of inflation in the regional government system. It coordinates price regulation measures in the regions with the goals and objectives of policy aimed at developing their economies. The findings contribute to the understanding of regional inflation factors and can be used by regional authorities when executing socio-economic development strategies.

Small-scale fisheries in ecologically sensitive areas in Latin America and the Caribbean: Do marine protected areas benefit fisheries governance?

AbstractMany small-scale fisheries (SSFs) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) operate in ecologically sensitive areas, where balancing conservation and resource use is challenging. 'Multiple-use' marine protected areas (MPAs) have been implemented to accommodate SSFs (among other uses) within areas designated for conservation, creating opportunities and challenges for SSF governance. We analyzed eleven case studies from LAC to explore: (1) how different MPA institutional designs affect key aspects of SSF governance and (2) the links between these effects and the type of initiative that promoted MPA establishment (origin). Results indicate that the existence of an MPA benefited SSF governance in many ways, with more pronounced positive effects in MPAs with mixed to bottom-up origin supported by well-organized fishing groups. In addition, the presence of supportive MPA authorities that leveraged local capacities and initiatives and adopted flexible and collaborative governance systems made a difference in several cases. Lessons for integrating MPA and SSF governance are drawn.

A review of E-Governance of Municipal Corporation in Urban Local Bodies

Modern states, regardless of their prevailing political ideology or national government structure, always have a system of local governance. The importance of local government cannot be minimized in any political system, whether it be a unitary or federal one, a parliamentary or presidential one. People are showing a surprising tendency toward optimism in regards to their communities' local governments. E-governance refers to the use of more minimal electronic systems in government operations, with the goal of storing, gathering, recognizing, and disseminating bandwidth and data affecting daily operations to the civilian population on demand. In this paper give review on e-governance in urban local bodies.

Rehabilitation of Heritage Buildings in Conflict Zones: A Case Study of Al-Khader Library in Gaza Strip and Its Impact on Sustainable Development

Rehabilitating heritage buildings is a common practice in developed countries. In contrast, developing countries experiencing conflict lack the financial support and qualified experts to restore heritage buildings. This article focuses on the restoration of the al-Khader building in the Gaza Strip, part of a UNESCO project aimed at preserving historical buildings. This study aims to explore the challenges and impacts of the adaptive reuse of the al-Khader building as a children’s library for the local community and to explore the impact of this project on sustainable development and its importance locally, as well as the role of this building restoration and rehabilitation through Quintuple Helix dimensions. Qualitative methodology was used, including field observation and interviews, to present the project stages during restoration in 2016. The interviews were conducted with library users, employees, and visitors to evaluate their experience in 2019. The research revealed that the restoration process faced several challenges, including a lack of experience and professional workers in conservation work. Despite challenges, the building’s transformation positively affected heritage preservation and the local community, aligning with 11 Sustainable Development Goals—directly with 7 goals (SDGs 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 16, and 17) and indirectly with 4 goals (SDGs 1, 5, 9, and 13). The findings emphasise the role of the library’s rehabilitation in contributing to the success of the Quintuple Helix in economic and civil society systems and the need to enhance the consideration of government, education, and environmental systems. Finally, this project, which external donors funded, increased awareness among local people of the importance of heritage buildings. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the current status of the building is unknown. This study, therefore, serves as necessary documentation of the building as it was in 2023 and prior.