The event will be introduced and chaired by Academic Chair in the Circle U. Knowledge Hub on Democracy, Professor Angioletta Sperti (University of Pisa). The seminar is organized within the framework of the PhD Programme in Legal Sciences, "Theory of Fundamental Rights, Constitutional Justice, Comparative Law, Law and Religion."
The seminar is open to all doctoral students of the Circle U. partner universities and can be followed online via Microsoft Teams.
Abstract
The notion of responsiveness has become central to contemporary debate on transparency, justice, and efficiency of public governance. At its core lies the idea that improving the effectiveness of interactions between governments and citizens requires a more flexible and participatory public administration.
Indeed, the involvement of associations and civil society in public administration decision making - through consultation, co-decision, and implementation - has been presented as a means to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of public governance, as well as to ensure that governments are more responsive to the needs of their citizens. Yet responsiveness, when combined with administrative flexibility, may challenge the principles of impartiality and equality, potentially leading to concerns regarding corruption and particularism.
Drawing on empirical research from post-communist contexts and comparative global data, the seminar, led by Prof. Lars Vinther Johannsen of the University of Aarhus, addresses how governments across the European Union interpret and implement responsiveness in practice. Particular attention will be given to how civil servants' perceptions, shaped by their organizational position and institutional environment, influence their attitudes toward participation and rule adherence. The discussion will also touch on the link between corruption and access to justice, highlighting how corruption can undermine responsiveness to people's needs, widening the justice gap and exacerbating inequality.
