Shahjahan H. Bhuiyan

Modernizing Bangladesh public administration through e-governance: Benefits and challenges

Abstract More and more public administration emphasizes how Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can be used to support transformational change in governmental functions globally to achieve efficiency and cost-effective service delivery to citizens. Bangladesh public administration employs energies to achieve this goal. Experience in some developing countries has shown that e-governance can improve transparency which leads to, among other things, corruption control and poverty reduction. This article examines the role that e-governance can play in the modernization of public administration for efficient and effective service delivery to the citizens of Bangladesh, as well as its potential to control corruption and reduce poverty. Based on the lessons learned from successful practices in developing countries and literature review, it suggests that e-governance can play a significant role for corruption control and poverty reduction, and thus offers opportunities to cost-effective service delivery to the citizens in Bangladesh.

Public sector reform in Kazakhstan: issues and perspectives

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate public sector reform (PSR) initiatives in Kazakhstan, and how such reform efforts have helped the government to be more responsive to the needs and demands of the citizens.Design/methodology/approach – The paper examined four key PSR initiatives: decentralization, Civil Service reform, e‐governance, and civil society in improving governance in post‐Soviet Kazakhstan.Findings – In light of Kazakhstan governments efforts to reform the public sector, the study finds that substantial progress has been made in improving its service delivery systems and enhancing good governance.Research limitations/implications – The study is an investigation of four out of several PSR initiatives aimed at improving good governance.Originality/value – The study provides insights into how aspects of PSR can be fundamentally useful in promoting good governance.

Trajectories of E-Government Implementation for Public Sector Service Delivery in Kazakhstan

The impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on public sector service delivery is immense as evidenced in Kazakhstan, a post-Soviet republic, and beyond. This article critically examines the trajectories of e-government implementation for public sector service delivery in Kazakhstan. Available evidence suggests that even the partial implementation of e-government accrues benefits, while the operational challenges, such as the lack of political support and consensus, the digital divide, the lack of qualified human resources, language, and infrastructure development, need to be addressed to ensure a cost-efficient, cost-effective, accountable, and transparent service delivery to Kazakhstanis.

Decentralization and Local Governance in Kazakhstan

Decentralization stands at a crossroad of scholarly debate and discussion on governance issues, no less so in transition countries. This article examines the role of decentralization for the promotion of good local governance in Kazakhstan. Available evidence substantiates that decentralization has a limited capacity to contribute to good local governance in Kazakhstan. This raises a fundamental question as to whether the Kazakh government is politically ready to build an efficient and responsive local government in order to achieve its “Kazakhstan 2030” policy aspirations.

Multipurpose community telecenters in rural Bangladesh A study of selected Union Information and Service Centers

This paper reviews and analyzes the development of Multipurpose Community Telecenters (MCTs) in rural Bangladesh. The core of the paper builds on bringing together relevant literature review and field study. The findings of the paper suggest that the development of telecenters in Bangladesh is still in its formative stage. MCTs have fared well in improving rural people’s livelihood at large, and the emerging middle class have been the major beneficiaries. Evidence suggests that the telecenters did not work much for the hardcore poor. The paper argues that MCTs as knowledge hubs have facilitated not only narrowing the digital divide but also contributing to the socio-economic development of rural Bangladesh.

Social Capital and Community Development: An Analysis of Two Cases from India and Bangladesh

This article explores the role of social capital in community development by focusing on two South Asian case studies drawn from India and Bangladesh. Both studies recognized social capital as a useful resource, which facilitates social interaction and promotes mutual support and cooperation and thus improves participants’ livelihood through income generation, better community governance and capacity building. An important observation is that social capital yields superior outcome if it is used in line with the local conditions of a given society. The findings suggest lessons for policy planners, donor agencies, development practitioners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society to use social capital as a resource in order to achieve sustainable community development.

Transition Towards a Knowledge-Based Society in Post-Communist Kazakhstan: Does Good Governance Matter?

This article analyses and reviews the progress made by Kazakhstan, a post-communist country in Central Asia, towards its journey to become a knowledge-based society. An attempt has been made to examine how and to what extent good governance plays a critical role in building a knowledge-based society. Available evidence suggests that Kazakhstan made considerable advancement, in the midst of profound transitional challenges, to move to transform itself into a knowledge society. The article argues that, while improving governmental quality, good governance will have a solid impact on transforming Kazakhstan to a knowledge-based society in order to achieve the ‘Kazakhstan 2030’ policy strategy.

Can Democratic Governance Be Achieved in Egypt

This article contributes to our understanding of whether democratic governance can be achieved in post-revolution Egypt. It explores the status of three key pillars of democratic governance in the context of the January 2011 People’s Revolution and subsequent political developments through August 2013: (1) inclusive participation, (2) responsive institutions, and (3) adherence to international practices and principles. Available evidence suggests that none of the democratic governance pillars has been realized so far as a result of political instability in Egypt. The article argues that the current political environment is not favorable to achieving democratic governance in Egypt.

Adapting to Climate Change in Bangladesh Good Governance Barriers

Climate change poses a serious threat to humanity in developed and developing countries and is already affecting South Asia. This study examines the role that good governance plays for adapting to climate change in Bangladesh, arguing that lack of good governance in Bangladesh risks reducing adaptation preparedness to climate change in the country. There is evidence, mainly because of geophysical risk factors, to support arguments that good governance has anyway limited capacity in relation to adaptation measures to climate change in countries like Bangladesh. The article argues that the current politico-economic situation makes it doubtful whether Bangladesh will achieve the fullest possible ability to ensure good governance for better adaptation to climate change in the near future.

Public Administration in the Middle East and North Africa

ABSTRACT This article highlights the objective of the special issue which is to understand the status of public administration in six profiled countries – Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Turkey – in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The special issue explores public administration as a concept—the diversity of guiding general principles that determines how governments administer the affairs of state in the context of their governance frameworks—and as praxis—the diversity of public administration structures, procedures and practice, and reform initiatives. It is evident that the countries profiled have adopted a mode of public administration and governance that mirrors its history, and its cultural, geo-political, socio-economic, and conflictive environments. In this context, the editors hope that the articles presented in this special issue will contribute to advancing the public administration literature in MENA.