The e-government paradox in post-Soviet countries

Colin Knox · Saltanat Janenova

67 citations0/0 files storedInternational Journal of Public Sector Management

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E-Government and Public Services Public Policy and Administration Research Public Administration in Developing Nations

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the emergence of e-government in post-Soviet countries using Kazakhstan as a case study. Extant research on e-government in developing countries highlights significant benefits including improved public services, reduced corruption, and more open and inclusive government. The paper asserts the presence of an e-government paradox which limits its potential to improve public services. Design/methodology/approach Primary data were collected from a number of sources: 6 focus groups with central government agencies, local authorities and civil society organisations; 25 structured and semi-structured interviews; and participant observation. Findings The research finds evidence of an e-government paradox in five forms: an emphasis on technological development; transactional services are faster but have displaced attention from core public services; petty corruption has been reduced but grand corruption remains; isomorphic mimicry; and greater participation by citizens has been limited. Research limitations/implications The focus of the research is Kazakhstan. Applying the lessons learned to other post-Soviet countries has limitations given their different stages of development since independence. Practical implications The key practical implication of this research is that countries can become absorbed by e-government technology without questioning the fundamental business model which underpins how public services are delivered. Ultimately, this impacts on the social value of e-government. Originality/value While existing research has examined how e-government has been implemented in developing countries, this paper focusses on Kazakhstan as an authoritarian state with wider implications for post-Soviet countries.

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References

1983The Iron Cage Revisited: Institutional Isomorphism and Collective Rationality in Organizational Fields 1977Institutionalized Organizations: Formal Structure as Myth and Ceremony 1983The Iron Caged Revisited : Institutional Isomorphism and Collective Rationality in Organizational Fields 2005E‐government adoption: architecture and barriers 2006The Failure of E‐Government in Developing Countries: A Literature Review 1991Symbolism and Information Systems Development: Myth, Metaphor and Magic 2007The Myths of E-Government: Looking Beyond the Assumptions of a New and Better Government 2007Pessimism, Computer Failure, and Information Systems Development in the Public Sector

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