Politicization in the Macedonian Public Administration
Politicization in the Macedonian Public Administration

Author(s): Qëndresa Sulejmani
Subject(s): Governance, Public Administration, Public Law, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Corruption - Transparency - Anti-Corruption
Published by: Аналитика Тинк-тенк Организација
Keywords: North Macedonia; public administration reforms; apolitical administration; democracy; depolitization of public institutions; civil service; EU integration; Law on Civil Servants; supervision in civil service;
Summary/Abstract: Public administration (PA), as the apparatus through which political decisions are executed, has long been considered a constituent part of government’s staff. The idea of an independent and apolitical administration was initially introduced by Woodrow Wilson in his “The Study of Public Administration” (1887) and its practice still remains relatively new, as the PA is in a constant reformation. This line of thought was initially applied in states oriented toward democracy and market economy, while highly centralized communist states disregarded the trend. Interest in the politics-administration dichotomy has reached Southeastern Europe only after the fall of the socialist regimes; yet even since, politics and politicians continue to define the organization and function of the administration in the region. Politicization of the PA derives from the visible and automatic synthesis of the ruling party with the state in post communist states. However, after the fall of the socialist regime in Macedonia, as in the whole region, there have been tendencies to reform the administration in the name of democracy and the market economy, but changes have been moderate, especially in practice. Hence, in Macedonia politicians retain control over the state administration although they are well informed of the benefits of a professional and neutral administration; in consequence, the implementation of democratization processes often stagnates in Macedonia.

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