“Globalisation has transformed the nature and character of public administration.” Comment.

The term “globalisation” describes how trade, capital, ideas, and institutions are moving beyond national borders to integrate economies, cultures, and governance. Public administration has always been seen as a bureaucratic, state-centric system. Globalisation, however, has changed this view by bringing new models of governance, changing administrative procedures, and redefining the function of the state.

Impact on Public Administration
One of the most significant consequences of globalisation is the shift in the role of the state. Instead of providing services directly, governments are focussing more and more on facilitation and regulation. In their book Reinventing Government, Osborne and Gaebler explain this shift from “rowing” to “steering,” which occurs when the state coordinates instead of controls. This change has been accompanied by the growing influence of New Public Management, which places an emphasis on efficacy, competition, and measurable outcomes. As a result, public-private partnerships, outsourcing, and e-governance have all emerged as crucial elements of administrative systems worldwide.

Globalisation has also brought forth a number of important administrative changes.  International agencies like the World Bank, IMF, and WTO have put pressure on developing countries to make fundamental changes.  The liberalisation measures of 1991 enabled disinvestment and the creation of regulatory bodies such as SEBI and TRAI in India.  These changes redefined governance by introducing market elements into governmental management.  Additionally, the requirement for transparency and accountability has grown as a result of globalisation.  Laws like the Right to Information Act (2005) and citizen charters have been introduced as a result of the increased view of citizens as stakeholders in governance.  International organisations and local civil society have consistently pushed governments to implement more open and efficient governance practices.

Another factor is the internationalisation of public management in general.  Governments increasingly adopt performance budgeting and New Public Management methods from other countries and borrow and transfer policies.  Globalisation has also made it more challenging to manage global public goods that require international cooperation and transcend national boundaries, such as cyber security, pandemics, and climate change.

Challenges and Criticism
Despite these improvements, there are drawbacks to globalisation. The state’s diminished welfare role is a big worry because social safety nets could be weakened by an over-reliance on markets. Furthermore, because not all states have the same administrative capacity to adjust to challenges from around the world, globalisation has led to inequality between nations. Implementation challenges arise because imported governance models frequently do not fit local sociocultural circumstances. Furthermore, when efficiency and competition are prioritised over inclusivity and equity, the marketisation of governance may weaken democratic accountability.

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