The administrative burden of globalisation

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.