The System of Government and Administration in Spain and Argentina: A Comparative Perspective
The System of Government and Administration in Spain and Argentina: A Comparative Perspective
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020-07
Authors
IDRIS, Musa LAWAL, Abubakar
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
The objective of this paper was to make a comparative analysis of the system of government and administration of Spain and Argentina. Specifically, the study sought to trace the political history of Spain and Argentina and compare the organizational structure of the legislative and executive arms of governments, as well as the structure and operational patterns of the Spanish and Argentinian bureaucracies. This study was exploratory in nature, relying on existing literature. The historical and case study approaches were adopted for the study. Both Spain and Argentina had experienced political crises and civil unrest (civil wars). However, unlike Spain where the unrest was characterized by revolution by the masses to get rid of the perceived protracted monarchical dictatorship, the crises in Argentina were mainly for emancipation from Spanish occupation and colonization, consciousness for self-rule and subsequently for independence. Both countries operate democratic system of government though on different frameworks. While Spain practices parliamentary monarchy, Argentina operates a presidential system of government. Like Spain, the Argentinean legislature is bicameral in nature. In terms of administrative structures and processes in both countries, bureaucracy is the first major administrative organ for policy initiation and implementation. Both Spanish and Argentinean bureaucracies operate career system of administration. But unlike, the Spanish Bureaucracy which exerts more influence and tightly regulates regional bureaucracies, the Argentinean Bureaucracy grants more autonomy and freedom to regional bureaucracies to operate with some little control in staff recruitment and promotions as well as retirement.
The Spanish bureaucracy operates a closed system of promotion, while Argentina operates an open-closed system of promotion. Finally, while Spain explicitly makes special provision for women participation in politics, Argentina rather makes such an explicit participation of women in administration. Although, Argentina shared similar political history and administrative experience with its colonial master, these similarities however, continue to wain as the former now takes after its powerful neighbour, the United States of America, in political and bureaucratic arrangements with passage of time. It is apt that Argentina ceases imitating and establish her political and administrative identity.
Description
Department of Public Administration Faculty of Administration Ahamdu Bello University, Zaria