PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM AND ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC David Špaček, Marek Vyskočil, 2015 The objective of this part of the course is to introduce the process and trends of public administration reform in the CR after 1989 and outline its outcomes with comparison to student’s home countries. For the purposes of a group discussion (in the English "seminar") please prepare/answer the following topics/questions (use materials from assigned reading which are specified below and available in studying materials for this part of the course in information system of the faculty): § Define "public administration". According to you, what are the main functions of modern public administration? § Outline the public administration system of your home country (in a scheme). Summarize roles of its individual parts as well as current trends of administrative reforms that are being discussed in your home country. § Could you notice any differences between expectation about public administration in your country and in the European Administration Space (in readings, European principles..)? § What phases of administrative reforms are described by Hesse for Central and Eastern European countries? Can this concept be applied to reforms of your home country? Which face is currently running in your country? Would you add some other phase? (Hesse's paper is included in Sigma Papers: No. 23) § What are the components of Czech territorial administration? Summarize objectives and results of its post-communist reform. Do not forget to answer the following questions/prepare the following topics: o What functions are assigned to Czech municipalities and regions? o What are main outstanding traits of Czech public administration system? o Try to compare the functions and institutional settings of Czech territorial administration with the one of your home country. § What roles are usually assigned to central government? Compare to roles of regional government. § What aims were and still are enumerated in Czech programme documents on reform of the central administration? Compare to priorities of programme documents in your country. Assigned reading § Špaček, D.,Neshybová, J. Brief history and current trends of public administration reform in the Czech Republic. In Public Administration in Times of Crisis. Bratislava : NISPAcee, 2010. 18 s. ISBN 978-80-89013-52-4. Available from: http://www.nispa.org/files/conferences/2010/papers/201006151411090.NISPA_2010_PA_reform_Spacek_Nesh ybova_fin.pdf (This paper outlines the two decades of post-communist administrative reforms and also points out issues and challenges for the future.) § Hesse, J. J. Rebuilding the State: Administrative Reform in Central and Eastern Europe. Preparing public administrations for the European Administrative space. In Sigma Papers: No. 23, OECD, 1998, pp. 168 – 179. Available from: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/download/5kml6143zd8p.pdf?expires=1444660891&id=id&accname=g uest&checksum=60A4D6A0AAC6760F109143D1B208CFCE § Ministry of the Interior. Public Administration in the Czech Republic, 2004. (particularly the Chapter 3 is relevant for you, since it outlines functions and bodies of self-governments) Available from IS (Information system for students), study materials. § OECD (1999), “European Principles for Public Administration”, SIGMA Papers, No. 27, OECD Publishing. Available from: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/download/5kml60zwdr7h.pdf?expires=1444660834&id=id&accname=g uest&checksum=7C1F169DCEACB8E950EE8663F418587D Contact: marek.vyskocil@econ.muni.cz