development administration

developmental administration and developmental state

1. DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION PUBA 301 FIRST SEMESTER 2015 Manyaka RK [email protected] Tel: [phone] Cell: 078 565 5401

2. ASSIGNMENT Comprehensively and critically discuss the originative context of the notion of a Developmental State in contemporary development discourse Specifications : 20 pages (excluding the bibliography, 12’ Times New Roman , 1.5 spacing and well justified and Minimum of 15 sources )

3. Learning outcomes from the assignment After the completion of this assignment, students should be able to :- > Understand the meaning of the concept of developmental state as desired development model >Understand how the concept of a developmental state is being theorised by policy makers and academics alike in South Africa >Give a detailed account of the originative context of the idea of a developmental state. >Explain the salient features of a developmental state >Describe the purpose of a developmental state >Explain its relevance in contemporary development discourse

4. Learning objectives The focus of this lecture is on the notion of a Development Administration. At the end of this lecture, students should understand the following:- The meaning of the concept Development Administration The nature & purpose of development Administration Various facets and/or elements of Development Administration and The nature of Development constraints & problems in developing countries.

5. Introduction Governments have increased in sizes throughout the world. This increase in sizes has had some serious imbalances emerging between 1) the hopes of the people and the realities on the ground and 2) developments needs and their fulfilment. It is within this context that in order to carry out the growing functions of government, the administrative system needs to be adapted, developed and even expanded to realise development needs.

6. Cont’ The post world war 2 period 1950’s and 1960’s was characterised by heightened interests / confidence in the power of economic & administrative systems and techniques of western origin. The cold war presented an ideal environment for the pursuit of economic interests & desires to secure economic advantages by the developed countries and multi-national cooperation's, mainly from the west, in developing countries. It was within this context that Development administration emerged. It emerged because there was a realisation in the development discourse that governments and their bureaucracies in less developed countries needed to be recreated, renewed and revitalised for development & transformation to take place.

7. cont’ The term Development Administration was discovered in the mid-1950s. However, it was only in the early 1960s that Development Administration gained popularity as a distinct approach towards administering development process under extremely situation in developing countries. What then is the meaning of the concept Development Administration? This vexed question is addressed in the section that follows.

8. Meaning of Development Administration (DA) It should be acknowledged that any meaningful discussion depends on the clarity of concepts. This is not so because concepts in the main are contested terrains, clarification of concepts is critical because according Maserumule (2012:180) concepts are tools of thinking. The correct use of concepts is important to improve our thinking and to undergird the epistemic imperative of the discourse.

9. Meaning Conti’ The term development Administration is defined differently by different scholars. In other words, there are as many definitions as there are authors. However, three definitions stands out thorough analysis of the discourse of Development Administration Development Administration refers to those activities of government that promote economic growth, strengthen human & organisational capacities, enhance quality in the distribution of opportunities & income (Milton Esman ) Development Administration refers to management of policies, programmes and projects designed to achieve development goals and objectives ((GF Gant) Developments Administration is concerned with development policies, programmes and projects in those conditions in which there are wide and new demands as well as low capacities and severe obstacles for meeting those demands (Bernard Schaffer)

10. Conti’ The commonality in these three definitions is that Development Administration is a “ special kind of administration ” that is best suited to the needs & challenges of developing countries-where there are formidable obstacles in the road to development. What stands out clear in these definitions is that Development Administration is premised on the idea that there are significant & fundamental differences between administrative process in developed & developing countries . Development Administration questions the relevance of classical/ traditional public administration systems, concepts & methods to the rapidly changing demands & challenges of development.

11. conti’ One crucial aspect of DA is that people are not only the targets of development administration but are also viewed as useful resources & beneficiaries of development projects , they must actively participate in the development process . The nature of development problems and challenges of developing countries are highly complex, dynamic & formidable . Proponents of this view hold that it is imperative to find appropriate institutions and organisations that are better able to address these challenges . Hence, there is a realisation that public institutions must be re-created & restructured to adequately respond to the developmental needs & aspirations of the people .

12. Conti’ It is often argued that development in developing countries is not frustrated by inadequate financial resources but by numerous inadequacies inherent in the administrative machinery of the bureaucracies in developing countries. It is therefore important that the a dministrative systems & organisations be structured in such a way that they are responsive to such problems. This means that public organisations must conform to their own socio-economic & political environment in order to realise their administrative & development goals . The shouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all approach .

13. Conti’ The new thinking in development discourse puts more emphasis on experimentation . This means that as a results of oceans of diversity, there can be no best way/path to development (hence different countries will follow different development routes) One other issue is that government needs to intervene in the economy . Proponents of this view argues that government & their bureaucracies in developing countries cannot afford to be passive participants in the development process . Government needs to be actively involved in the design, formulation & administration of development projects . Proponents of this view holds that governments should go beyond the mere regulation of the economy and extend their role into the realm of facilitating & inducing fundamental & structural changes.

14. Facets of Development Administration Development Administration has got two major facets namely: development of administration & Administration of development . Development of Administration Development of administration involves the strengthening & improving administrative capacities as a means for achieving developmental goals. The focus here is to develop administrators . Administration of Development Administration of development implies that administrative organisations are expected to act as instruments in the implementation of development programmes, projects and policies .

15. Conti ’ To this end, it can be argued that the two facets of development administration constitute two sides of the same coin . This means that administration cannot be improved without changes in the environmental constraints that hamper its effectiveness & equally, the environment cannot be changed unless and until administration of development programmes is strengthened .

16. Elements of development Administration Planned & coordinated efforts Development Administration in operational terms refers to organised efforts to carry-out development programmes & projects in the direction of nation building & socio-economic development It is important to acknowledge that such efforts needs to be channelled towards developing human & material resources as part and parcel of national development. For progress to be attained in this regard, planning and coordination should be considered critical in such organising efforts..

17. CONT’ Planning & coordination in this regard is crucial as it facilitates the identification of major functions/projects to be carried out as well as the alignment of such programmes. In developing countries where human & material resources are scarce, governments are increasingly under tremendous pressure to adopt & adapt planning techniques as crucial in promoting socio-economic development. NDP is a case in point

18. Goal-orientated administration One of the critical aspects of administrative functions of PUBA is policy making. Policy Making is critical as it set goals and objectives of administrative actions. Development Administration does not only involve effective and efficient carrying out of functions, it also involve formulation of clear goals and objectives that guide the administrative action. It must be goal-orientated administration with emphasis on achieving socio-economic goals. However, in most instances, bureaucratic administration is rule bound & procedure orientated offering resistance to change.

19. Management capacities One of the facets of development administration puts more emphasis on the development of administrators. This involves creating & enhancing management capacities of administrators as a means for achieving development goals. The focus of DA is on improving the skills and knowledge of development orientated administrators so that they are able to effectively respond to the growing needs of the people.

20. Elements Progressivism The element of progressiveness of goals is an accepted feature of development administration. Progressivism in this case means greater participation of the people in development process. It also entails training & development of administrators with a focus on preparing administration for future tasks. This essentially requires forecast of new competencies in the wake of changing technology & methods.

21. Elements Public participation Participation is another key element of development administration. Progressive realisation of development goals by developing economies would entail a far greater participation of the people. In political democracies, public participation would imply the strengthening of pressure groups, political parties & respect for public opinion in government efforts. It is therefore expected of DA machinery to create & promote such conditions that will facilitate greater participation in the process of social & economic change and in delivery of public services.

22. Public participation Cont’ To this end, it can be argued that participation of people in the formulation, implementation, monitoring & evaluation of programmes & projects attuned to benefit them is critical feature of development administration. However, it is important to note that for participation to be effective, members of the public should be familiar with the problems to be addressed. They must also demonstrate willingness & ability to participate. If Public participation can be made a central feature of development administration, development administration will be grass-roots orientated.

23. Elements Creativity & innovativeness Another important element in development administration is creativity & innovativeness . Creativity in this regard is understood as the ability & power to develop new ideas . Innovation generally implies the application of such ideas . Creativity & innovation therefore emphasises the new way of doing things. Once goals have been agreed upon and new priorities determined, innovation is needed. It is within this context that development administration as an instrumentality of government , lays emphasis on the adoption of new structures, procedures, policies, plans and programmes which will help in achieving developmental objectives with the greatest possible facilitation.

24. Elements Responsiveness & accountability The traditional administrative system was criticised for the simple reason that administrators tended to be routine minded, stagnant and generally lacking in the enthusiasm and ability for innovation. DA requires administrators who are dynamic, innovative & development conscious enough to perform their duties in the administration of development. DA is therefore required to be responsive and accountable.

25. Elements People-centred administration DA must be people centred because it is aimed at serving the needs & interests of the people. This is because development programmes & projects are designed by planners and administrators with the aim of benefiting people. It is within this context that DA seeks to put administrators with requisite capacities to mediate & respond to substantive demands from members of the public. DA must consistently respond to the growing demands, challenges & expectations from the people.

26. Development Constraints in developing countries Colonial & western pattern of development Lack of skilled personnel & administrative staff Centralised bureaucratic structures Inadequate political will & support to improve administrative systems Multiplicity of administrative agencies Limited public participation Lack of motivation Corruption

27. Further Reading For further reading on this thematic area, students are strongly advised to consult the following sources: Chapter 3, Sapru, RK (2002)Development Administration Chapter 13 & 14 , National Planning Commission (2012) National Development Plan Chapter 2 , Kotze, D.A (1997) Development Administration & Management: A holistic approach. Pretoria: Van Schaik

28. THE IDEA OF DEVELOPMENTAL STATE

29. Introduction There is a considerable debate in South Africa as well as in many developing countries about the prospects of future development. This debate largely emanates from the realisation that the current development path pursued by these states does not yield the desired benefits for the majority of the population of the third world. Development in most of these countries is said to be stagnant. The discussion seeks to introduces students on the current debate concerned with the challenge of building a developmental state in South Africa.

30. Conceptualisation of the notion of Developmental state The concept of a developmental state has become a mantra for government officials, policy makers and academics (Andani, 2012). This is understandable because the usage of the concept in the P ublic A dministration discourse in South Africa is fairly new. There was no mention of the concept in the discourse that shaped and guided the multi-party negotiation process in the early 1990s This is in spite of reports that the ANC, one of the major players in the negotiations, had entertained ideas that are associated with a developmental state while in exile

31. Cont’ This consideration should, as Maserumule (2012) argues, encourage us to ask questions as follows:- Why did the concept of DS vanished from the discourse in spite of the fact it occupied the centre stage of the discourse in exile? Were the national democratic and reconciliation projects more important than a developmental project? Was this a missed opportunity on part of the ANC to seize their strategic political advantage of the negotiation process to forge a consensus on a developmental state and its vision?

32. Cont’ DS has generated a widespread debate among policy makers and academics. To better understand the gist of the current thinking on developmental state, it is of critical importance that the originative context of term be established.

33. (cont’) According to Madumo (2012), the current thinking on the discourse of a developmental state originated in East Asia in the 20th Century . The concept of a developmental state was coined by Chalmers Johnson in 1982 ( Dlamini , 2008; Kauzya , 2008; Dassah , 2011) to describe Japan’s successful “development scenario and industrial process” ( Dassah , 2011: 590).

34. (cont’) Johnson’s description primarily appreciates and acknowledges the critical and transformative role played by an “active and interventionist” state (Dassah, 2011: 590 & Tsheola, 2012) of Japan in leading and directing a successful and impressive development trajectory . Johnson credits the Japanese state , and not the market forces , for the country’s high and sustained economic growth rates and development that has contributed immensely towards realising the development needs of Japan. The socio-economic successes of East Asian countries have drawn a considerable attention to the concept of a developmental state as a possible model for developing countries.

35. What is a developmental State ? The idea of the developmental is premised on the centrality of the government driving development objectives and goals of the nation through the state. It is not anti-capitalism but it pro-regulating / pro-intervening in the affairs of the economy in the interest of the developmental goals of the nation whatever they may be.

36. Cont’ It is the idea that the State is the main driver of development as opposed to the idea that free-market is the propeller of development . The latter is the position of GEAR while the former is much more related to RDP as was the principal policy of the ANC when it came to power in 1994 . A policy which was implemented until 1996 when GEAR was introduced.

37. cont’ The defeat of the RDP policy by the Mbeki faction within the ANC put the ANC and South Africa down the neo-liberal route of today. The RDP policy was South Africa's signal to the international markets and the West that we had truly embarked on the path towards a developmental State . Instead, the signal of GEAR , which substituted for and replaced the RDP policy, which the NDP is repeating and resending, is to telegraph again to the international markets and the West (investors especially) that we remain tied to the hips to the Washington Consensus and its neoliberal economic policy framework, and that we are open to do business with them without caring for a developmental State.

38. Cont’ In his Mai l& Guardian article of 2008, Joel Netshitenzhe revealed that the Mbeki government had already started the process of crafting a national developmental plan and a strategic vision, and that Mbeki's Cabinet devoted the January 2008 Cabinet Lekgotla to discussing specifically this issue Joel went on to serve on the Zuma-appointed National Planning Commission ( NPC ), which came up with the Diagnostic Report and finally the NDP.

39. Cont’ So the link between GEAR and the NDP, in terms of personnel, eg Trevor Manuel and Joel Netshitenzhe, and policy thinking, eg neo-liberal economics, bowing before the Washington Consensus, and idolizing as well as sacralising the moneyed investors, all this at the expense of SA's poor and unemployment, is more than direct It is complicit and explicit. The NDP is the proud successor of GEAR

40. (cont’) The ANC’s engagement with the notion of a DS is largely based on the constructs that describe the socio-economic progress made by East Asian countries in realising their developmental needs. DS has generated a widespread debate among policy makers and academics However, Maserumule (2012) points out that the concept is convoluted by the fact that it is enmeshed in numerous misconceptions.

41. (cont’) For example, the theorisation of DS in South Africa is as follows:- as a democratic state, or that it is anti-thesis of democracy, a service delivery state and or that all states are developmental T here is a general agreement that the promotion of a developmental state is buttressed by a strong sense of realisation that it could contribute immensely towards addressing the numerous socio-economic hardships facing the significant majority of the people in South Africa

42. Democratic developmental state There is a consensus in PUBA discourse on the notion of developmental state that South Africa and indeed African countries requires the so called a democratic developmental state (DDS) This is informed largely by a consideration that the traditional model of an autocratic DS as observed in the East Asian examples seems unsuitable for Africa. This is attributed to the fact that their authoritarian nature allowed for a very minimal public participation.

43. cont Hence, it is argued that the differences between the A sian-type authoritarian DS and what some scholars increasingly refer to as DDS should be noted and be considered to be of critical importance. It is desirable for African countries to consider adopting and implementing DSs that are democratic, particularly in terms of allowing space for public and civic engagement

44. Cont’ The other argument that is made about the necessity of creating a DS is that all the countries that are presently considered in terms of the dominant paradigm, have also benefited from state-led injection of vital resources in their initial stages of development. Interestingly, the same countries are today, the champions and advocates of free-market and neo-liberalism

45. DS model seem to be the most appropriate for Africa not only because of its appeal to most countries. I t is seen as the most effective vehicle for undertaking positive and fundamental changes without merely relying on the proverbial notion of the “invisible hand of the market” This understandable because much of the continent consists of largely poor, agrarian and underdeveloped countries that undoubtedly require significant state intervention and support

46. Cont’ It is important to caution however that this will not happen without onslaught from developed countries and financial institutions such as the IMF, World Bank etc . This is understandable considering the enormous influence of developed countries on the development trajectory of developing countries

47. Questions to Ponder Comprehensively discuss the origin of the notion of a developmental state Explain the misconceptions associated with the theorisation of the notion of a developmental state in South Africa Why is it necessary foe African countries to theorise developmental state as democratic developmental state?

48. THANK YOU