The Social Accountability Paradox in the Regional Democratic Budget Policy Making
Abstract: Social
accountability has been believed as an approach to overcome the deficit of the
formal accountability (both horizontal and vertical accountability). Social
accountability is percieved as a public accountability which is initiated by
and aimed for the society. Several studies found the effectiveness of social accountability
in encouraging a more transparent government and a wider public involvement.
Those studies identified variables which contribute to the social
accountability, i.e. the degree of government openness; the density of
community organizations and their advocation capability; social, political, and
cultural environment; and the public information accessibility. Data for this
paper is collected through in-depth interviews and focused group discussion
with the major players in the budget policy making process, including local
government officers, members of local house of representatives (DPRD), and
activists of the local community groups in the Regency of Karanganyar. This
paper argues that despite its effectiveness, social accountability also produce
some counterproductive excesses. The term social accountability paradox is used
in this paper to represent the abuse of social accountability and it risks.
This paper aims to identify the practices of social accountability abuse in the
local budget policymaking process, with the case of the Regency of Karanganyar.
Based on the study, there are some requirement to be fulfilled In order to
increase the social accountability of the public budget policy making process,
i.e. (1) revision of regulations to encourage a more transparency in the budget
public information; (2) the development of community-based monitoring and
dialogues forums; and (3) the increasing of the capability of community groups
in conducting social accountability audit.
Author: Rutiana Dwi
Wahyuningsih, Sri Hastjarjo
Journal Code: jpadministrasinegaragg140062
