State of the State in Latvia

Research Report No. 1. May 2000

Abstract:
The paper reports the result of a survey of ministers in core Latvian ministries from independence through the 1990s. The interviews focused on three groups of ministries: a) general (domestic) responsibilities – finance and economics, b) those with more specific (but central) domestic tasks – welfare and the interior, and, c) foreign affairs. The interviews were conducted in February 2000. The target group consisted of 63 current and former ministers, of which the survey included 51. The survey revealed a governmental structure characterized by a high degree of departmentalism with limited contacts with civil society organizations and a pronounced degree of mistrust between ministries. Suspicion of misuse of position among one’s colleagues in other ministries was observed in a majority of the interviewees.

Appendix1: Background information pdf

Appendix2: Questionnaire (english) pdf

Appendix3: Questionnaire (latvian) pdf

Appendix4: Questionnaire frequencies and quotes pdf

Appendix5: Governments in Latvia since Independence pdf

Appendix6: The formal Structure of Government in Latvia since Independence pdf

Research Report No. 11. December 2002

Abstract:
Through a survey of Hungarian ministers since regime change through the 1990’s the development of the core executives’ capacity to make and implement decisions are analysed. It is found out that with respect to decision making a chancellor democracy has emerged embedded in constitutional structures and in a hierarchical leadership culture. However, problems related to creating a civil service based on the principle of meritocracy, a high turnover among civil servants and numerous problems encountered in the phase of implementation questions the capacity to make decisions real. Furthermore, the ability of powerful interests to escape regulatory measures suggests shortcomings with respect to the rule of law. However, contrary to initial expectations it is found out that Hungary exhibit a specific west European state trajectory in the sense that formalized arrangements to include social forces in the policy process have been developed. This incorporation is not only practical but also rooted in the political values of the core executive suggesting that permanent and increasingly pervasive features of Hungary state-society relations are being built.

This paper reports the results of explorative research into the capacity of the Estonian central state system. Our survey of core ministers from independence through the 1990s revealed a governmental structure close to the ideal classical liberal state with insulated state institutions and real decision-making concentrated within a structure dominated by the government. Our findings indicate that technical and implementation capacities in Estonia are above average for former communist states, and that unlike in many other such states corruption is not a major problem. However, the ministers identify inadequate resources, lack of understanding and agreement on objectives, lack of coordination and information as well as insufficient staff motivation as major obstacles to efficient implementation. Despite having implemented an impressive amount of legislation, powerful individuals, organizations and businesses are still able to escape regulatory measures. Furthermore, although the Estonian civil service system actually functions quite well, a genuine merit-based civil service system has yet to be established. Finally, the country must become better at integrating the concerns and objectives of the entire population if it is to generate high political legitimacy and become a fully consolidated high capacity democracy.

The report is available on request

State of the State in Lithuania

Research Report No. 19.  2004

Abstract:

The paper explores the consequences of the fundamental political shift in Lithuania in 1996, when the parliamentary election changed the governmental system, replacing the Center-left government with a conservative majority coalition. The findings are based on 53 interviews with former and current ministers of core ministries in post-independent Lithuania. The findings reveal that there are indeed differences in the attitudes and responses expressed by pre- and post-1996 Lithuanian ministers. Differences are found in a number of areas. Regarding the power structure in the ministries, increased centralization is reported after 1996, where power to a greater extent is concentrated in the hands of the prime minister. On the functioning of the administrative system, Lithuania is on the right track, but has yet to reach the goal of a merit-based Weberian civil service system. Concerning implementation capacity, the ministers have on average encountered 4 types of implementation problems. This number is very high, and it is no lower for the post-1996 ministers than for their predesessors. However, there are differences between pre- and post-1996 ministers, e.g. deviation in the types of implementation problems encountered.

 

State of the State in Lithuania

State of the State in Moldova

With Hanne Jensen and Jørgen Møller (Research assistants)

Research Report No. 24. November 2004

Appendix3: Questionnaire frequencies pdf

State of the State in Mongolia

Research Report No. 24. November 2004