Not Quite Right: Representations of Eastern Europeans in ECJ Discourse

Although the increasing responsiveness of the Court of Justice of the European Union (the ‘ECJ’) jurisprudence to western Member States’ concerns regarding Central and Eastern European (‘CEE’) nationals’ mobility has garnered academic attention, ECJ discourse has not been scrutinised for how it approaches the CEE region or CEE movers. Applying postcolonial theory, this article seeks to fill this gap and to explore whether there are any indications that ECJ discourse is in line with the historical western-centric inferiorisation of the CEE region. A critical discourse analysis of a set of ECJ judgments and corresponding Advocate General opinions pertaining to CEE nationals illustrates not only how the ECJ adopts numerous discursive strategies to maintain its authority, but also how it tends to prioritise values of the western Member States, while overlooking interests of CEE movers. Its one-sided approach is further reinforced by referring to irrelevant facts and negative assumptions to create an image of CEE nationals as socially and economically inferior to westerners, as not belonging to the proper EU polity and as not quite deserving of EU law’s protections. By silencing CEE nationals’ voices, while disregarding the background of east/west socio-economic and political power differentials and precariousness experienced by many CEE workers in the west, such racialising discourse normalises ethnicity- and class-based stereotypes. These findings also help to contextualise both EU and western policies targeting CEE movers and evidence of their unequal outcomes in the west, and are in line with today’s nuanced expressions of racisms. By illustrating the ECJ’s role in addressing values pertinent to mobile CEE individuals, this study facilitates a fuller appreciation of the ECJ’s power in shaping and reflecting western-centric EU identity and policies. Engaging with such issues will not only allow us to better appreciate—and question—the ECJ’s legitimacy, but might also facilitate a better understanding of power dynamics within the EU. This study also makes significant theoretical and methodological contributions. It expands (and complicates) the application of postcolonial theory to contemporary intra-EU processes, while illustrating the usefulness of applying critical discourse analysis to exploring differentiation, exclusion, subordination and power within legal language

The Role of Experts in Local Government in Transitional Countries

Contains fulltext : 46479.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Th is paper addresses the role of experts in decision-making in local government. Departing from theories about professionals and technocrats in decision-making processes, the question arises as to how much infl uence these experts have in policymaking processes. Th e paper addresses this question and discusses the role of western experts in adapting the social security system to EU requirements in a Polish community under the PHARE program. Th is is a critical case, because comparative figures show that local policy-makers in East European countries have a relatively large trust in experts and because of the money involved, Polish policy-makers are heavily dependent on the experts. Th ese facts result in the expectation that the experts’ advice would be humbly accepted. The case study shows, however, that many recommendations do not get a follow-up. The degree to which that is the case seems to depend on the contents of the recommendations, the arrogance of the experts and the degree to which the recommendations are suited to the specific characteristics of the recipient’s situation

Consolidation in local government: An international comparison of arguments and practices

Contains fulltext : 113010.pdf (author's version ) (Open Access)20 p

Public accountability through soft steering

Contains fulltext : 111789.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)This article argues that present-day procedures on public accountability miss the essence of being accountable. We suggest that alternatives are available in social psychology theory and network theory, which point to the decisive role of peers or experienced organization members. In this view, it is not leadership but middle management that is crucial in the socialization of newcomers in an organization to internalize values and to create a situation in which employers and employees develop mutual expectations about what is expected from one another and create multiplex networks in order to maintain such values.30 p

Restoring professionalism: What can Public Administration learn from Social Psychology

Contains fulltext : 87036.pdf (author's version ) (Open Access)NISPAcee Annual Conference, 12 mei 201

The Politics behind aiding Administrative Reform: Swedish Politicians' Views on the Technical Assistance to CEE Countries during their Transition Process

Contains fulltext : 68630.pdf (author's version ) (Open Access

Increasing transparency is not always the panacea: An overview of alternative paths to curb corruption in the public sector

Contains fulltext : 158854.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)- PURPOSE – The purpose of this paper is to argue that the analysis of corruption must distinguish between corruption in organizations where this kind of behaviour is widespread and corruption in organizations where it is rare, and must also distinguish between corruption as the outcome of an economic cost-benefit analysis and corruption induced by social-psychological factors. - DESIGN/METHODOLGY/APPROACH - This is a conceptual paper. - FINDINGS – In order to be effective in combating corruption, a fit is needed with the main determinants of corrupt behaviour: first, at the individual level in which either personal morality, social or economic considerations are at stake; second, at the organizational level in which social-psychological factors might be determinative; and third, at the contextual level in which economic prosperity, the nature of the political system and cultural features are important. - PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS – Especially in systems where corruption is widespread, policymakers could benefit from theories in social psychology to combat corruption. - SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS – To see corruption as the result of an individual cost-benefit analysis or as a lack of morality often misses the point in cases of widespread corruption. - ORIGINALITY/VALUE – The paper points at the added value of social psychology approach to corruption as compared to the approaches at present dominant in public administration.26 p

The Potential Capacity of Hamlets: Comparative Research on Small European Municipalities

Contains fulltext : 203268.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)22 april 201921 p

The limits of leadership

Contains fulltext : 111902.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)26 p