Politics and Public Administration in Latin America
| DOI | 10.1177/002085237904500310 |
| Published date | 01 September 1979 |
| Date | 01 September 1979 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
ii
Politics
and
Public
Administration
in
Latin
America
A.R.
BREWER-CARÍAS
In
the
Latin
American
countries,
as
else-
where,
administration
is
the
instrument
of
the
State’s
policy,
which
is
now
based
on
social
policy
as
well
as
economic
policy,
which
are
combined.
The
objectives
of
such
a
policy
can
only
be
carried
out
by
the
public
authorities
through
public
administration.
But
in
the
case
in
point,
that
view,
though
generally
ac-
cepted,
is
still
idealistic
because
the
Latin
American
government
services
are
in
a
condi-
tion
which,
instead
of
making
them
the
main-
stay
of
economic
and
social
development,
have
made
them
its
chief
obstacle.
A
change
of
course
is
therefore
essential.
The
only
way
to
work
it
out
is
to
draw
up
a
general
picture,
corresponding
to
no
particular
example,
of
public
administration
considered
in
the
political
environment
which
shapes
it
and
determines
its
possible
activity.
How
political
independence
and
social
integra-
tion
affect
public
administration
The
countries
in
question
achieved
independ-
ence
more
than
150
years
ago.
There
were
no
difficulties
in
&dquo;
nationalizing &dquo;
their
civil
services,
and
the
trouble
was
the
existence
of
conservative
creole
governments.
By
way
of
reaction,
&dquo;
revolution &dquo;
became
endemic
and
helped
to
bring
about
a
better
social
integration.
The
administrative
authorities
gradually
gave
up
Spanish
methods
and
were
influenced
by
European
systems
of
administrative
law
and,
owing
to
the
predominant
federalism,
by
North
American
trends.
They
also
deviated
from
liberal
ideas
by
progressively
setting
up
their
own
special
institutions.
No
tribal
or
ethnical
problems
of
access
to
the
civil
service
or
reli-
gious
questions
have
arisen.
Growth
has
there-
fore
usually
taken
place
on
conventional
lines,
but
with
some
peculiar
factors.
The
effects
of
centralism
Political
centralism
is
an
obvious
fact
that
may
readily
be
explained
and
has
four
main
consequences:
(a)
an
excessive
administrative
centralism
which
is
often
incompatible
with
federalism.
It
leads
to
a
concentration
of
decision-making
in
the
capital
and
a
withering
away
of
state
.and
local
government
which
makes
any
form
of
devolution
of
powers
impossible.
But
de-
centralization
is
essential
to
development
and
national
harmony;
(b)
concentration
in
the
hands
of
the
Chief
Executive
or
President
of
the
Republic.
This
is
due
to
a
personalization
of
authority,
which
has
considerable
effects,
as
well
as
to
the
presidential
system;
(c)
the
ensuing
weakening
of
local
govern-
ment,
which
formerly
predominated
and
has
gradually
declined
over
a
long
period.
It
will
be
difficult
to
put
the
clock
back;
and
(d)
the
consequent
lack
of
participation
of
the
community.
There
is
no
participation
in
public
administration,
as
the
citizens
are
un-
organized,
except
for
a
few
pressure
groups
with
special
aims.
The
weakening
of
the
Legislature
and
the
Judiciary
This
is
likewise
gradual
and
coincides
with
political
and
administrative
centralism
in
favour
of
the
Executive,
and
hence
of
the
admin-
istration.
The
main
political
consequence
has
been
the inevitable
destruction
of
parliamentary
control
of
public
administration,
which
has
practically
disappeared
in
individual
cases.
Neither
have
circumstances
ever
allowed
judi-
cial
control
to
become
effective,
since
it
is
politicized
and
largely
at
the
service
of
the
Executive.
As
a
result,
there
is
no
external
control
of
public
administration.
Besides,
as
administration
has
become
more
powerful,
it
has
increasingly
been
pervaded
by
pressure
groups,
which
it
has
no
suitable
means
to
resist,
especially
as
it
comes
under
a
political
party
regime
practising
the
spoils
system,
with
disastrous
effects.
In
its
turn,
it
is
able
to
make
use
of
the
political
parties.
Under
such
conditions,
the
introduction
of
a
merit
system
in
the
public
service
can
hardly
be
effective.
Increased
administration
related
to
the
aims
of
the
State
The
trends of the
modem
State
have
norm-
ally
been
towards
economic
and
social
inter-
vention
and
a
gradual
taking
over
of
res-
ponsibilities
in
those
fields,
with
a
correspond-
ing
growth
of
public
administration
and
the
following
unfortunate
consequences.
(a)
Administrative
control
of
many
kinds
of
activity
through
the
granting
of
permits,
licences,
and
authorizations
after
complicated
formalities
which
give
rise
to
corruption.
To continue reading
Request your trial