Original scientific paper
Transparency and Openness in Local Governance: A Case of Croatian Cities
Anamarija Musa
orcid.org/0000-0002-4061-0335
; Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb
Domagoj Bebić
; , Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb
Petra Đurman
; Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb
Abstract
Transparency and openness are a key concern in contemporary democracies, at both the national and subnational level. Dissemination of public information is a prerequisite for citizens to exercise their individual and political rights. Transparency is also a prerequisite for accountability. The openness of public authorities to a dialogue with the citizenry has become a key ingredient of the democratic process. Citizens are able to take part in a shared responsibility for the decisions of public authorities. The paper presents an evaluation of the websites of 16 Croatian cities. The Transparency and Openness index, composed of four dimensions, and further developed through 13 components, has shown that cities still do not comply with transparency standards, even when those standards are legally prescribed. They are inclined to disclose ‘light’ information, which is
not politically loaded and has no direct connection to the accountability mechanism.It is possible, however, to detect innovative leaders, who promote transparency and employ their websites accordingly.
Keywords
transparency; openness; local governance; city websites; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
142730
URI
Publication date:
28.6.2015.
Visits: 3.816 *