Abstract:
Globalisation as a trend is an accepted phenomenon. The European Union,
African Union, United Nations and its affiliates as well as sectoral and
supra national structures attest to this statement. South Africa is a relative
newcomer to the challenges posed by globalisation / internationalisation as it only
became a global role-player in 1994 with the democratising of the country. It is
necessary to consider the effects of the shrinking autonomy on a country brought
about by a globalised attempt to attend to a variety of social, economic, political
and environmental matters.
In the article attention is devoted to only one aspect of globalisation i.e.
the administrative effects on a country’s internal public administration and
management. Attention will be devoted to the degree of autonomy a country
enjoys in policy-formulation as a result of its membership of an international
structure. The requirement to participate in such institutions also demands
financial commitments and in most cases personnel have to be deployed to
perform the assigned functions. The ultimate demand for public accountability
raises the question as to whom a country’s government is accountable to? Linked
to this is the accountability of the international/supra national structure to member
states and consequently of such members to their respective constituencies. The
most relevant administrative implications will be addressed.
