Paper short abstract:

Public administration system is the key to ensure national development. Its role needs to be examined and analysed considering the contemporary and multi-dimensional aspects including the context and capacity of states. This paper sheds light on the key factors of development among African nations.

Paper long abstract:

National development and effectiveness of a country's public administration system is largely dependent on states' capacity or incapacity. Thus, a state with the needed capacity is able to navigate both of its domestic and international environment for political will, advocate logic and feasible ideas, understand the economic structures and implement policies through a strong bureaucracy or civil service (Cummings & Nørgaard, 2004). This suggests that the role of certain critical actors - politicians and civil servants cannot be overemphasized. Their behaviour is somewhat shaped by the state's own structures and behaviour, and the capacity of states to lead, transform and enjoy legitimacy will in turn be shaped by its relationship with these actors.

Rose (1987) advance that policy making typically reflects a combined effort of both politicians and senior bureaucrats. But they both approach policy and problems of governing from different angles and offer different contributions. This paper draws on Cummings and Nørgaard's (2004) conceptualization of state capacity to discuss the implications of state (in) capacity on national development and the mediating role of a strong public administration system.

The rest of the paper is structured as follows. The term state (in) capacity is foremost defined. Related theories on state (in) capacity are also reviewed and discussed. The paper further examine the components or construct of state (in) capacity. Subsequently, the paper discusses the implications of state (in) capacity for national development and the mediating role of an effective public administration system and strengthened state capacity.