THE PUBLIC SECTOR SHOULD BE NON-POLITICIZED

Auteur/ices

  • Stefan Mitikj Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v11i4.2059

Mots-clés :

public administration, merit-based recruitment, political appointments, governance reform, institutional trust, North Macedonia, accountability, civil service professionalism

Résumé

This policy brief examines the pervasive problem of political influence in North Macedonia’s public administration, focusing on how partisan appointments undermine institutional effectiveness, accountability, and public trust. Despite existing legal frameworks, the absence of a robust system for merit-based recruitment enables the persistence of nepotism and political favouritism across senior management positions. Drawing on empirical evidence and recent cases, the paper identifies key procedural weaknesses in selection and evaluation processes that compromise administrative performance. It argues for the adoption of a comprehensive Law on Senior Management Service to establish transparent, competence-based criteria for appointments and performance assessments. The proposed reforms—rooted in meritocracy, transparency, and accountability—aim to strengthen institutional capacity, improve service delivery, and restore citizens’ confidence in democratic governance.

 

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Biographie de l'auteur

  • Stefan Mitikj, Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS), University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

    Stefan Mitikj is a researcher in political sociology and public policy whose work explores the intersections of governance, institutional trust, and migration in Southeast Europe. He holds an MPhil in Politics and International Studies from the University of Cambridge and a BA in Political Science and Social Research and Public Policy from New York University Abu Dhabi. His research is grounded in comparative and mixed-method approaches, combining survey analysis, qualitative inquiry, and institutional analysis to examine how perceptions of fairness, legitimacy, and opportunity shape civic behaviour and migration decisions. His current research focuses on the sociology of emigration and the institutional determinants of youth mobility in post-socialist contexts, with a particular emphasis on North Macedonia and the Western Balkans. His broader academic interests include political sociology, state–society relations, and the comparative study of governance in small states.

    ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9894-0989

Références

ЗИП Институт, Мрежа 23, Кој вработува, општината или партијата?, 2017. Retrieved from https://zipinstitute.mk/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/2.-Кој-вработува-општината-или-партијата.pdf

Popović, M., & Panovski, M. Кој „тоа“ таму управува? Извештај за 2019 година, Retrieved from 2020. Retrieved from https://idscs.org.mk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/A5_MKD_КОЈ_ТОА_ТАМУ_УПРАВУВА_2-1.pdf

Draft Law on Senior Management Service, North Macedonia, 2021.

Makfax Report: “Aliansi për Albanët: DUI për emërime partiake”, July 12, 2022. Retrieved from https://makfax.com.mk/makedonija/алијанса-за-албанците-дуи-за-партиски/

OECD (1999), “European Principles for Public Administration”, SIGMA Papers, No. 27, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/5kml60zwdr7h-en.

OECD (2023), The Principles of Public Administration, OECD, Paris, https://www.sigmaweb.org/publications/Principles-of-Public-Administration-2023.pdf

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Publiée

2025-10-19

Numéro

Vol. 11 No 4 (2025)

Rubrique

Articles