Towards an Administration of Communication : Perspectives and Limits of Reforms in Western Countries

Summaries of Articles published in French
and Spanish
Towards an Administration
Control is exercised by the Ombudsmen, the
of Communication : Perspectives
administrative tribunals and the Supreme Court.
The
and Limits of Reforms
legislation in Finland, Denmark and Nor-
way is less comprehensive than that of Sweden
in Western Countries
and the more complicated procedures in Den-
mark and Norway deter the press from using
M.C. HENRY-MEININGER
official documents. In these countries the prin-
ciple of transparency is directed towards the
Public administrations in developed coun-
protection of individual rights rather than the
tries are currently undergoing a profound so-
control of administrative action. More restric-
cial and political transformation. Communica-
tions are applied, but they discourage abusive
tion would appear to be the remedy for an
practices by administration. This model of
administrative machine no longer able to sup-
communication has resulted in a low degree
ply sufficient information or to exercise ade-
of conflict between citizens and administration.
quate control over its actions. The need for
The incidence is somewhat higher in Sweden
a greater transparency of administration is
where knowlegde of the law is more easily
reinforced by the advent of new technology
acquired.
such as informatics and all its implications.
In different Western countries
2. In the
a reform move-
USA, the Freedom of Information
Act
ment has developed, directed towards granting
(FOIA) in 1966 and its subsequent re-
the citizen the right
forms in 1974 and
to participate in this
1976, resulted from a
new
area of social power
questioning of the federal administration during
-
the field of information.
Information held by large organizations has
the 1950’s and demands for a greater informing
also led
of citizens which intensified
to a demand for increased protection
during the Vietnam
of individual rights.
War and the Watergate affair. The FOIA
recognized rights of communication of admin-
I. CITIZENS’ ACCESS TO
istrative documents to individuals, on request,
,
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
with the exception of nine categories of docu-
ments.
The amendments adopted in 1974
The lead was taken towards freedom of
were designed to overcome difficulties in in-
access to public documents by Sweden and the
terpretation and an element of resistance with-
USA, followed by the other Nordic countries
in administration.
The ambiguities of some
and Canada. In France the adoption of access
aspects of this law, particularly concerning the
legislation was something of a revolutionary
exemptions, have resulted in the frequent
step, and...