Modern democratic federations in the digital age: the conditions and prerequisites of electronic government (de-)centralization

Abstract

This thesis discusses the process of administrative (de-)centralization of electronic government in 11 democratic federations. The research is comparative in nature and process-tracing was used as a primary data analysis method in order to identify the factors that led to the centralization or decentralization of the three electronic government areas. The following factors were discussed in the study: economic resources, the quality of public services, the quality of electronic government and the political orientation of the majority party in the parliament. The work not only analyzes the prerequisites for the actions of the central government regarding the electronic government system aimed at redistributing intergovernmental power-relations but also categorizes these actions in the context of redistribution of administrative powers. Based on the results of the study, the factors of centralization or decentralization of each electronic government area are highlighted, and the main strategies are outlined. As the thesis argues, the desire of federal center to improve the quality of public services and quality of electronic government leads to the decentralization of electronic services area with the centralization of electronic administration, while increasing of economic resources leads to greater centralization of both electronic administration and electronic services.