Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.3935/rsp.v8i3.197
Possibiltties of Decentralisation in Social Policy and of the New Role of Local Authorities
Siniša Zrinščak
; Studijski centar socijalnog rada, Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Gojko Bežovan
; Studijski centar socijalnog rada, Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Sažetak
Contrary to most other post-communist countries, Croatia inherited a relatively decentralised social care system. In addition to that, as an integrated part of the socialist system it was also highly bureaucratic. Under the influence of war and other specific features of the Croatian social development in the beginning of 1990s, that system became highly centralised and has functioned as such for ten years. At the same time, especially after the new Social Care Act of 1998 came into force, additional (parallel) social care systems were developing in Croatian towns (particularly in larger ones). In the beginning of 2000, the Government of the Republic of Croatia started a gradual decentralisation of the social care system. Authors are considering the actual decentralisation policy from several viewpoints. It is primarily situated within the actual crisis of welfare state and development of welfare mix. The application of the subsidiarity principle proves to of special importance i.e. its insufficient reception in Croatia. The results of the social policy research in Croatian cities are presented in detail. Data compilation was conducted on the basis of interviews with responsible persons in municipal social care offices, analyses of social programmes of towns, filled out surveys (74 towns) and interviews with social care department supervisor in four largest Croatian towns. Based on this research, the problems and possibilities of further decentralisation are discussed. Special attention is drawn to the fact that decentralisation must be structured as a part of the democratisation process, that it must mobilise all resources of local communities, that a far greater co-ordination should exist between different levels of government (central, regional, local) and various participants (state, non-profit and profit). The dangers of different levels of social rights in various regions of Croatia are mentioned. Decentralisation should be structured and conducted in such a manner so that it contributed to the system efficiency. In the end, the most recent legal solutions by which the gradual decentralisation in the social care area began in Croatia in the middle of 2001 are analysed. Contrary to most other post-communist countries, Croatia inherited a relatively decentralised social care system. In addition to that, as an integrated part of the socialist system it was also highly bureaucratic. Under the influence of war and other specific features of the Croatian social development in the beginning of 1990s, that system became highly centralised and has functioned as such for ten years. At the same time, especially after the new Social Care Act of 1998 came into force, additional (parallel) social care systems were developing in Croatian towns (particularly in larger ones). In the beginning of 2000, the Government of the Republic of Croatia started a gradual decentralisation of the social care system. Authors are considering the actual decentralisation policy from several viewpoints. It is primarily situated within the actual crisis of welfare state and development of welfare mix. The application of the subsidiarity principle proves to of special importance i.e. its insufficient reception in Croatia. The results of the social policy research in Croatian cities are presented in detail. Data compilation was conducted on the basis of interviews with responsible persons in municipal social care offices, analyses of social programmes of towns, filled out surveys (74 towns) and interviews with social care department supervisor in four largest Croatian towns. Based on this research, the problems and possibilities of further decentralisation are discussed. Special attention is drawn to the fact that decentralisation must be structured as a part of the democratisation process, that it must mobilise all resources of local communities, that a far greater co-ordination should exist between different levels of government (central, regional, local) and various participants (state, non-profit and profit). The dangers of different levels of social rights in various regions of Croatia are mentioned. Decentralisation should be structured and conducted in such a manner so that it contributed to the system efficiency. In the end, the most recent legal solutions by which the gradual decentralisation in the social care area began in Croatia in the middle of 2001 are analysed.
Ključne riječi
decentralisation; social policy; local authorities; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
30065
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.3.2001.
Posjeta: 2.371 *