PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE: THE ROLE OF THINK TANKS OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL PERSPECTIVE
meterialamy analytical report for the department of development strategies of the political system
(J. Kaplan)
I. Non-government think tanks as "intellectual intermediary between the government and society
Democratic political "system of Ukraine requires the expansion of conscious and competent public participation in this process. In the implementation of this task a special role to play in such institutions of civil society non-governmental think tanks.
Non-government think tanks (National) - a public research organization that conducts research mainly in areas such as legal, political, social, economic and others. Among areas of specialty related to the problems of public participation in government, should be singled out three key:
1) collaboration with state and local authorities to develop management decisions in accordance with the limits of competence of these bodies;
2) raising awareness of their rights and freedoms, pressing problems of socio-political development and the promotion of mechanisms for public participation;
3) cooperation between themselves in order to coordinate national activities of their own.
The major functions performed in the National Democratic countries, it should be noted: the formation of public opinion on development priorities of different spheres of social life (socio-economic, political, cultural etc.), providing consulting and information services to the population, protection of constitutional rights, articulation of interests and needs. Thus, in democratic countries NATIONS actively participate in the development and realization of state policy, act as a "smart bridge" between government and society "[1].
In developed countries, cooperation and national authorities are often under state order these or other services. This provides an effective relationship with the public authorities as a whole and with individual citizens' associations, depending on the scale of specific policy objective. The main advantages of state power in democracies government contracts NGOs is, first, providing information to citizens on key areas of public policy and socio-political issues in general and their involvement in decision these issues, and secondly, - the creation of additional mechanisms of legitimation of important social and political decisions in society. The latter, in turn, enhances trust in the initiatives and activities of state bodies, local authorities and civil society itself.
Development different forms of cooperation of public authorities with civil society in general and non-governmental think tanks in particular is quite responsible and EU integration course of Ukraine. It should be emphasized that as part of the "Eastern Partnership" European Commission identified one of the important priorities of partnership development cooperation NGOs EU member countries and partner countries. For this planned annual "Forum of Civil Society (FHS) in one of the members or partners of the EU. One of the main objectives of the determined to maintain dialogue between the public, civil society and government. Particular attention is given to increase role of NGOs in the formulation and implementation of tactical and strategic objectives of public policy. First Civil Society Forum Eastern Partnership was held in Brussels on 16-17 November 2009 the European Commission recommends that before each of the respective national FHS Forums in member countries of the Eastern Partnership.
II. Activities of independent analytical centers of Ukraine to engage citizens in public administration
Analysis of National of Ukraine as a whole and on specific aspects of her complicated by the absence in Ukraine of a special register of non-analytical centers. Accordingly, accurate information on the number and structural features of national public absent. Some data about them and their activities can be based on analysis of official information on the number of NGOs in various areas of social and political life, which is found on the website of the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine within the overall Unified State Register of enterprises and organizations of Ukraine. A partial list of NGOs та їхні вихідні дані є на веб-сайті Міністерства юстиції України. Слід зауважити, що за даними Мін’юсту значний відсоток НАЦ в Україні зареєстровано як благодійні funds, because of the inadequacy of the tax policy on funding of NGOs in general. A significant amount of information on National activities found on the Internet portal network of think tanks Ukraine.
Among the most famous independent analytical centers nationwide level can be called in Ukraine: Ukrainian Center for Economic and Political Studies Razumkov (Razumkov center), the Committee of Voters of Ukraine (ECU), Laboratory for Legislative Initiatives, Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research (UCIPR), International Centre for Policy Studies (ICPS), Center for Political and Legal Reform, Civil Society, Foundation for Democratic Initiatives, School of Political Analysis at the National University Kyiv Mohyla Academy (SHPA at NaUKMA), Kyiv Institute of Management Issues Gorshenin more. Among the regional specialty in analytical note examined four particular, Kiev Centre for Social Research (Dnepropetrovsk), Carpathian Polling Research Center (Uzhgorod), Turkey Association of Community Initiatives, the Foundation for Local Democracy in Kharkiv. These specialty
selected the following basic criteria: long-term operation; of regular information and analytical research on current issues of social and political development; visible presence in the information space (national or regional) political impartiality; active information policy. National
above is separate activities for public participation in social and political life. The main areas of activity are: Public Opinion Research, Knowledge of citizens, development of local communities and local authorities, cooperation between NGOs etc..
Providing information and consulting services to the population in different areas of public life exercise almost all considered think tanks, including the International Centre for Policy Studies (ICPS), founded in 1994 by the Open Society Institute. Its activity is aimed at "creating procedures for substantive dialogue between the legislative and executive authorities and the public "[2]. ICPS implemented several important large-scale projects to raise awareness and public participation in solving social and political issues, such as: "Developing the capacity of regional NGOs policy analysis at the local level, methodological, and educational support for regional NGOs to prepare lobbying. Of particular note two major projects that were carried out during the 1999-2007 biennium - is the People's Voice and Voice - 2. The first stage lasted from 1999 to 2002 took part in it communities of four cities of Ukraine: Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Chugueva Kupyans'ka. The main purpose of the "Voice" was the introduction of mechanisms and procedures for involving the public in an effective, responsible and open government. The main objectives of the project was to increase the efficiency of interaction between government and communities to improve the quality of governance in these cities. To implement this task has done several events, including the maintenance of local public organizations, conducting public awareness campaigns, maintenance centers for the provision of services.
second stage, namely the People's Voice - 2 ", was carried out during 2004-2007 in six cities in Ukraine: Alchevsk, Coloma, Komsomolsk, Lutsk, Makiyivka and Chernigov. During the concert, among other tasks implemented programs for providing support to local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to actively involve the public in political life. The basic mechanisms and means of implementation of this task was the creation advisory capacity to the local government, public opinion survey and public hearings.
constant attention to participation public administration of state and local affairs pays Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research, which has existed since 1991 Among his major projects to increase public participation in government can be called "promotion of political rights and freedoms in Ukraine as a democratic requirement social development. "
Civil Society Institute has completed projects such as: "Land and Law" (September 1, 2004 - September 1, 2005, carried out in Vinnitsa and Khmelnytsky oblasts), aims to improve access to legal mechanisms for implementation and protection of their rights to land and property received in the process of privatization of property and sharing of agricultural enterprises, "the reform: from simulation to implementation" (November 1 2008 - October 30, 2009, the project was carried out in Vinnitsa, Sumy, Ternopil, Kherson regions together with the International Renaissance Foundation, Foundation East Europe and the Swiss-Ukrainian project "Support to decentralization in Ukraine), whose goal was to involve citizens and independent experts in planning and implementation of administrative reform in Ukraine. Another project of this NGO continues - Civic Initiative for the protection of economic and social rights of citizens "(March 2009 - March 2011). The main goal is to promote the protection of economic and social rights of the rural population у сфері земельних правовідносин.
Важливим інструментом залучення громадян до управління державними та місцевими справами є інформаційне підтримання electoral rights of citizens. The greatest attention to this problem gives the Committee of Voters of Ukraine (CVU). HLC is one of the few national NGOs which has an extensive regional network consisting of regional, district and local branches. CVU provides educational activities regarding the features election laws and enforcement mechanisms voters. Relevant work carried out by means of public reception, which created on the basis of many regional branches as well as organization of information and educational campaigns as during the election period and beyond, a public hearings, meetings, workshops, seminars and more.
non-governmental think tanks, much attention is paid to the development of local Communities and Local Government. In particular, the Agency for Legislative Initiatives "carries out projects to promote local government that also include the organization of public events such as "The interaction of civil society and local government, local quality government: institutional and legal challenges, new tools to realize the potential of local government in Ukraine ".
Ukrainian national pay considerable attention to problems of developed civil society. In particular, there are many projects on the maintenance of public organizations and ensuring effective cooperation between them. In this context it should be noted Razumkov center, which, inter alia, be implemented and carried out such programs as: "Development of regional think tanks", "Revitalization of Civil Society for the choice in favor of democracy in 2004, NGOs Think tanks in Ukraine: supply and demand. " In a generalization of the results above UCEPS the project "Non-analytical Centers in Ukraine: opportunities, challenges and prospects ", which materials are placed in the" National Security and Defense of Ukraine "№ 6, 2007
III. Activity regional non-governmental think tanks to engage citizens in public administration
analysis of regional non-governmental think tanks greatly complicated the weakness of their information resources. Among the few regional organizations consistently in the information field of Ukraine, include the following:
1) Dniprovskyi Centre for Social Research, the main areas of research are: monitoring of local government and self-analysis activities of political parties and NGOs, especially interaction between the authorities and the public, the study of regional public opinion.
2) Carpathian Polling Research Center analyzes the socio-economic processes in Transcarpathia and socio-political orientations of different population groups in the region.
3) Turkey Association "Civic Initiatives" carries out human rights activities, paying attention to the development of effective community initiatives and local government, control of government at all levels, promotion of democratic electoral system and an effective public dialogue. In particular, carried out various community support initiatives, explanation of the current legislation to protect the rights and freedoms.
4) Foundation for Local Democracy in Kharkiv has the following basic programs: Political, economic, legal research. Among the key activities of the fund should note guidelines for local authorities to consideration of public interests during the adoption of social policy, promotion of interaction between authorities and NGOs implementing practice of public participation in decision-making authorities. Partners Foundation for Local Democracy is the Foundation for Local Self-Governance of Ukraine, Institute of Local Democracy, Center Razumkov Ukrainian Independent Center for Economic Research, Laboratory for Legislative Initiatives Foundation Open Society "Foundation" European Dialogue ".
IV. Association of Independent think tanks
In some examples of maintenance and development National civil society, attempts are made on the creation of a single national association of NGOs. Yes in 2007, representatives of NGOs funded by the International Charitable Foundation "Renaissance" initiative was implemented forming a collective body that would facilitate the establishment of communication between civil society in Ukraine to form and expression of common positions on important social and political problems. It was founded by Ukraine Civic Assembly (GAU), whose mission at national and regional platforms for public discussion and consolidation of representatives of public associations on ways to address strategic problems of Ukrainian society. Today GAU is the largest network in Ukraine NGO, which unites about 400 members.
Since the establishment GAU held three assembly, each of which involved some 300 NGOs. During the third Assembly "civil action society in a state of crisis "that was held 29/03/2009, spoke about the need and possible mechanisms and means of enhancing the participation of citizens in making social and political decisions. During 2007-2009, except for the three National Assemblies, a series of regional meetings.
should note another union of Ukrainian National - established in 2006 "NGO Coalition for an effective constitutional reform", which included representatives UCIPR, CVU, Center for Political and Legal reforms, the School of Political Analysis at Kyiv Mohyla Academy. In 2007, the above association has prepared a "Green Paper on the Ukrainian constitutional reform", which contains proposals on key principles for reform of their view of the Constitution of Ukraine.
in 2007 to implement constitutional reforms have been effective established constitutional Civic Committee, whose members are experts of Ukrainian National: CVU UCIPR, Civil Society Institute, Agency for Legislative Initiatives, by SHPA Thank the Center for Political and Legal Reforms, etc..
Conclusions
1. In Ukraine there is a tendency for active development of independent think tanks to intensify their activities to ensure public participation in public affairs. You can state increase their professionalism, strengthen their influence on public opinion, increasing the efficiency of interaction with national authorities state and local governments (the gradual improvement of the legal framework, expanding forms of cooperation), increasing the range of socio-political issues investigated Nations.
2. The problem in national development of Ukraine is a significant spike in their regional network: the most concentrated in the national capital region. Accordingly, most specialty devotes its activities to study the socio-political problems of national scope. Activities of Regional National focused largely on issues of local character. You can talk about increasing the participation of regional specialty to solve local social and political and socio-economic issues, as evidenced by active participation of their representatives in the advisory capacity to the local government, examples of collaboration with other national, participate in the operation of the Civic Assembly, numerous publications in the media and others.
3. In domestic activities National trend to strengthen mutual coordination of their activities, collaboration with other NGOs, relevant institutionalization these processes. Catalyst that began the constitutional changes of 2004 and public discussion on further improvement of the Constitution of Ukraine.
4. The main problems in the Ukrainian national on public participation in government are the following:
- Absence of public orders non-think tanks on the development of conceptual and policy framework in various spheres of public life, draft legal acts of informing the public, surveys of citizens, etc.;
- the limited scope of projects undertaken;
- lack of broad regional National networks;
- high degree of dependence on Ukrainian national financial and logistical support of international organizations.
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