Administrative capacity development for the modernisation of rural communities in Romania

• Author: Ani Matei, Luminita Iordache
• Pages: 149-156

The European Citizen and Public Administration

149

Administrative Capacity Development for the Modernisation of Rural

Communities in Romania

Ani Matei1, Luminița Iordache2

Abstract: The local public administration is one o f the key social actors in the sustainable development and

transformation of the community, assuming its constant adaptation to new conditions at the economic,

political and social level. The present paper aims to analysis the connections between the development of

administrative capacity and modernization of local communities in Romania. Assumptions main research are

the need to develop the administrative capacit y to support the modernization of local communities and the

mutual influence between this two processes. It also takes into consideration to use the analyses for

improving administrative capacity made b y international bodies like the World Bank, International Mon etary

Fund, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Commission. This paper

aims to contribute to the development of literature in the field considering the specificity of the modernization

process in rural communities in Central and Eastern Europe, which is based on the transformation of public

administration and connecting it to the needs of citizens. The target group of readers is represented by

researchers, who have the opportunity to develop n ew mechanisms for the improvement of the administrative

capacity but also by practitioners in the field who can implement new development strategies for the local

public administration. Quantitative and qualitative tools will be used for the theoretical and practical

examination of the way in which Romania can develop by contributing to the general welfare of the citizens.

The originality of the paper is the rationale, description and operationalize a framework of reference for

highlighting the impact of modernization on local administrative capacity development. To this we add an

empirical analysis conducted for a local community in Romania.

Keywords: social change; rural development; smart communities

1. Introduction

Administrative capacity development has a long history in the development aid of third world

countries, it built on previous concepts starting from institutional building of the 1950s and it begins to

take a macro- reform perspective in the late 1980s -1990s.

The challenges of globalization, increased mobility of people, technology, societal, demographic and

climate change, are more than ever a fundamental impact on the role of the public sector and

governments. These changes coupled with the importance of administrative capacity increasing

require for strong and stable authorities / institutions, which are at the same time agile and flexible,

and open to change. The public sector has always been under pressure to develop public services and

to deliver citizen-centric service.

1 Professor, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) - Faculty of Public Administration ,

Address: 6 Povernei Str., Bucharest, Romania, Tel.: +4 0372249786, E-mail: amatei@snspa.ro.

2 PhD Studen t, National University o f Political Studies and Public Administration (SNSPA) - Faculty of Public

Administration, Address: 6 Povernei Str., Bucharest, Romania, Tel.: +4 0372249786, Corresponding author:

iordache_luminita19@yahoo.com.