The Public Administration in Rwanda and Burundi in the age of international policies for good governance; an anthropological comparative approach

Thesis Director: Giorgio Blundo

Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS – School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences)

Abstract:

Structural Adjustments implemented by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) within developing states have a normative structure based on Weberian principles of governance. They aim at the modification of public services management towards a state organizational functionning matching the occidental ideology of good governance. However, this state reform exerts a socio-cultural impact which affects existing solidarities ( accountability modes) and modify the relation between the State, the Administration and the Citizens (governance modes).

My aim is to analyze the transposition of international norms of good governance into the bureaucratic procedures in Rwanda and Burundi, studying the implementation of good governance principles throughout decentralization. The findings and recommandations of the thesis will be relevant to optimize the implementation process of structural adjustment plans on decentralization and increase knowledge on its socio-cultural consequences.

Research Areas:

• Political anthropology of the state
• Decentralization, governance and public service’s delivery
• Anthropology of transitional processes  and state’ structural reforms
• Sociology of the organisation and behavioral norms, functionnalism