A study of Civil Service: concepts and issues with special reference to Armenia

Abstract

In this Master’s Essay we are going to discuss civil service, its concepts and issues with special reference to Armenia. Here we put forward the following research questions: 1. What are the concepts of civil service? 2. What challenges is currently facing civil service? 3. What are the main problems of civil service in post-communist countries of the Central and Eastern Europe? 4. What are the current issues of civil service in Armenia? 5. What measures should comprise the agenda of Armenian civil service reform? 6. What factors could promote effective implementation of civil service in Armenia? The study of civil service is of great significance. Throughout most of the history, civil service has been recognized as an important undertaking that contributes to the betterment of society, supported by citizens and politicians alike. In the important matters of our public lives we are more involved with public bureaucracy than we are with parties, elections and legislatures. Civil servants are key factors in foreign affairs, the human services, environmental policy, educational reform, the space program, and an endless variety of other important areas. To understand this important aspect of governmental process so to be able to deal effectively with public issues that directly affect our life is helpful, and sometimes even essential. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw unprecedented changes in the political and economic systems of the Central and Eastern European states and the former Soviet Union, including Armenia. Following the disintegration of the USSR in December 1991, it became evident that the old regulatory framework and obsolete administrative structures were not capable of resolving the urgent and complicated problems of transition to a new political and economic reality. The new leaderships of the above mentioned countries faced the immense task of transforming the communist state apparatus, which they inherited from the old communist system, into an efficient state administration capable of meeting the requirements of a market-oriented economy and democratic form of governance and, equally important, meeting the expectations of ordinary citizens. The main impediments to the development of professional and impartial civil service systems in the regions are the classical dilemmas of public administration, such as the politics-administration dichotomy, the definition of the degree of administrative self-management, the creation of a professional human resource management system suitable for the specific situation of the civil service and so on. It is possible to formulate a checklist for what is yet to be done in Central and Eastern Europe, including Armenia, if coherent high-quality civil service systems are to be created. This includes the development of transparent recruitment and dismissal provisions, a fair remuneration system, and most importantly, the development of personnel management capacities. The president of Armenia and the parliament must provide the essential environment for effective leadership and public support. The work on the draft Law of the RA on Civil Service should be intensified and carried out as soon as possible. The consideration and discussion of these issues will provide us with necessary information about civil service, the challenges facing it, and options for achieving effective and responsible public management, which will result in the growth of public confidence in state and civil service.