GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THE STATE 2008-2010

CONCEPTIONAL FRAME OF OUR RESEARCH I.

RESEARCH ON GOVERNANCE 2008-2010

The issue of "governance" or " gouvernance " or " gouvernementalité " is one of the most complex phenomena in politics. The governance of communities spreads from self-governance through the regional and national levels and on to global governance. According to recent definitions, governance means a collective action, based on the cooperation between state (government) and non-state (for- profit and non-profit organizations, businesses, employee and transnational interest groups) actors, aimed at providing common goods, according to common principles and aims. These new notions show that the formal, centrally managed, hierarchic organizations of the national governments are not exclusive participants in the policy-making procedure. The ideas of "governance without government" and a "new mode of governance" seem to remove some of the political character of governance, however.

ISSUES / RESEARCH PROGRAM 2008-2010

The mission of the ISSUES 2008-2010 research program is to raise and answer acute socio-economic issues in a public policy-linked manner, to coordinate the problem arising in the public discourse with the professional fields of the economic and political elites, and to eliminate the increasing fault lines between the governmental, business, and social spheres. The ISSUES 2008-2010 project provides an institutional framework for organizing and maintaining an interested community between Hungarian citizens, economic actors, political decision-makers, and those preparing policy. The review material prepared within the framework of the project helps us to strengthen the processes of the culture of rational consideration and democratic orientation.

E-GOVERNMENT RESEARCH: MICROREGIONAL MODEL OF ELECTRONIC PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Regional and micro regional electronic governance deals with procedural, work managerial organizational developmental and legal issues related to the use of info-communicational tools applicable in regional administration. The spread of e-government is such a platform that during an administrative reform, without totally restructuring the existing institutions, it contributes to the implementation of reform supported by social consensus.

RESEARCH ON ELECTIONS PROGRAM

The Századvég Centre for Political Analysis and Research and Forsense Market Research Institute, in a joint research program on elections, is examining party preferences and changes in the electoral opinion climate among Hungarian electors.

The omnibus research conducted every month is focused around two sets of questions. On the one hand, there is a standard question bloc that examines both data on a long-term scale and identifies certain trends. On the other hand, we attempt to find answers to actual, relevant political or economic issues in our research.

ACADEMIC RESEARCH

1. Research on governance (Bolyai János Research Scholarship, 2006-2008)
2. Theoretical political paradigms (OTKA Research, 2007-2010)
3. The issue of regional identity (OTKA Research, PTE Program)

MAIN RESEARCH ACTIVITIES COMPLETED IN 2008

• Analysis of the budget for 2008 from a public policy and social perspective
  Public policy analysis of the government (Evaluation of the government volume)
  

• Public policy analysis of the year 2008 (Public policy Reviews)
• Public service oriented media review for MTV Zrt.
• Chances for creation and management of public service in micro regions

•  Das politische System Ungarns , 2008

• E-Government studies, 2008

•  Social compromise - International examples, Hungarian chances - National Interest, special issue
•  Governance (knowledge) and the neo-Weberian state (book publication, studies, conference-participation)
•  Governmental models and reforms in Europe (workshop studies - English, French example)

• Research on Election Program (DKMKA, FORSENSE)

•  Surveying, public policy summary - Backbone volume, 2008

RESEARCH PLAN 2009. (SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH DIRECTIONS)

• Analysis of the budget for 2009 from a public policy and social perspective
  

• Public policy analysis of the government ( Government review volume )
• Public policy analysis of the year 2009 (Public Policy Review)

•  Workshop studies ( healthcare, regionalism, public administration, governmental paradigms)
•  Security and military policy during the Antall- and the Boross-governments (Századvég book )

• Research on Corruption ( Chronology 2001 concluding study 2001-2009)
• Reform and electronic administration ( studies )
• Responsivity of the public administration (studies )
• Governance and crisis - National interest special issue

•  Reforming Europe : The Role of Centre-Right . Constantinos Karamanlis Institute for Democracy . 

• Think-tanks and Issues (conference, 2009)

•  Policy programs and EP-election (conference, 2009)