Rule of Law in Public Administration: Problems and Ways Ahead in Peacebuilding and Development

116 Pages·2008·1.26 MB·English

our mission
The Folke Bernadotte Academy is a Swedish government
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research report
Rule of Law in Public Administration:
Problems and Ways Ahead in
Peace Building and Development
Per Bergling, Lars Bejstam, Jenny Ederlöv,
Erik Wennerström, and Richard Zajac Sannerholm
issn: 1652-7887
isbn: 978-91-975447-7-1
This is the fifth title in the series ‘Research Report’, published by the Folke Bernadotte
Academy. For a list of titles in the series, contact the Academy.
First printing
Authors: Per Bergling, Lars Bejstam, Jenny Ederlöv, Erik Wennerström,
and Richard Zajac Sannerholm
Editor: Maria Nystedt
Graphic design and layout: Fidelity Stockholm
© Folke Bernadotte Academy 2008
No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without the written
permission of the Folke Bernadotte Academy. Swedish material law is applied to this book.
Printed by Edita Västra Aros AB, Sweden 2008.
table of contents
Foreword ............................................................................................................. xi
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................... xii1
Executive summary ..............................................................................................xv
1 Introduction ......................................................................................................1
1.1 Purpose and output ....................................................................................6
1.2 Method ......................................................................................................7
1.3 Key concepts and definitions ......................................................................8
2 Rule of Law Problems in Practice .....................................................................11
2.1 Impact of conflict on public administration ...............................................11
2.1.1 Physical destruction of public buildings and official records,
and loss of human resources ...........................................................12
2.1.2 Lack of constitutional authority .....................................................12
2.1.3 Unclear competences and responsibilities .......................................13
2.1.4 Corruption in the public administration .........................................14
2.1.5 Centralization, politicization and lack of accountability .................15
2.2 Impact of rule of law problems on individuals
and vulnerable groups ...............................................................................16
2.2.1 Arbitrariness and unclear law .........................................................16
2.2.2 Discrimination ...............................................................................16
2.2.3 Lack of access to justice ..................................................................17
2.3 Customary systems and public administration ..........................................18
2.4 Rationale for international engagement .....................................................19
3 Inventory of Rule of Law Approaches ..............................................................21
3.1 Cross-cutting considerations and recommendations ..................................21
3.2 Defining rule of law in public administration ............................................22
3.3 Transformation to national law .................................................................27
3.3.1 Constitutionalism and constitutional reform ..................................27
3.3.2 Universal values, legitimacy and local ownership ............................28
3.3.3 Administrative law and procedure ..................................................30
3.4 Institutional reforms: judicial remedies and supervision ............................32
3.4.1 Administrative courts ....................................................................32
3.4.2 Ombudsmen ..................................................................................33

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rule of law in public administration
3.4.3 Execution of judgements and decisions ...........................................35
3.4.4 Ad hoc bodies and mass claims mechanisms ....................................35
3.5 Anti-corruption .......................................................................................37
3.5.1 Conventional responses ..................................................................37
3.5.2 Trust and governance .....................................................................39
3.5.3 Addressing material conditions ......................................................40
3.5.4 Media and civil society ...................................................................41
3.6 Aids for law-makers and institution-builders ............................................42
3.6.1 Interim and transitional legislation .................................................42
3.6.2 Checklists for law-makers ..............................................................45
3.6.3 Best practice studies .......................................................................46
3.6.4 Handbooks ....................................................................................47
3.6.5 Governance modules and quick-start packages ...............................48
3.7 Assessment of problems and remedies .......................................................49
3.7.1 Rationale .......................................................................................49
3.7.2 Models of assessment .....................................................................49
3.7.3 Assessing weak and vulnerable groups ............................................53
3.8 Monitoring ...............................................................................................53
3.9 Indicators .................................................................................................56
3.10 Improving inter-agency/sector co-operation .............................................57
3.10.1 Mandates and paradigms ................................................................57
3.10.2 Lessons learnt and future needs ......................................................58
3.11 Support for training ..................................................................................61
3.12 Promoting access to justice .......................................................................64
3.13 Strengthening legal aid mechanisms ..........................................................65
3.13.1 State and civil society .....................................................................65
3.13.2 Paralegal initiatives ........................................................................65
3.14 Developing traditional and customary concepts ........................................67
3.14.1 Mapping and understanding customary governance .......................67
3.14.2 Human rights concerns ..................................................................67
3.14.3 Support strategies ...........................................................................68
3.15 Engaging civil society ...............................................................................69
3.16 Transparency enhancement ......................................................................70
4 Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................................71
4.1 Ways ahead ..............................................................................................72
4.1.1 Cross-cutting recommendations .....................................................72
4.1.2 Defining and codifying rule of law in public administration ...........72
4.1.3 Transformation to national law .......................................................73
4.1.4 Institutional reforms: judicial remedies and supervision ..................74
VI
4.1.5 Anti-corruption .............................................................................75
4.1.6 Aids for law-makers and institution-builders ..................................76
4.1.7 Assessment and monitoring tools ...................................................77
4.1.8 Improving inter-agency/sector co-operation ...................................77
4.1.9 Support for training .......................................................................78
4.1.10 Promoting access, aid and assistance ...............................................79
4.1.11 Developing traditional and customary concepts ..............................80
References ............................................................................................................83
Abbreviations .......................................................................................................93
VII