After a short introduction on good governance, I would like to make an appeal to the Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic:
You hold office because of a political consequence, where the public have elected you (albeit your party) into a position to form a coalition-government, which in numbers has a majority in Parliament, BUT it still implies there is political responsibility for the whole society.
You hold office at a Department, which is supervising among others a varied and interesting area in your nation's life: Culture, as we could all agree, is a substantial, unique and inseparable part of people's lifes. Although it happens today and now, some of the cultural strings go far back into history. Next to a specific national character it has also international connections, as culture has always gone over national borders, forming a symbiosis of colourful flavours to re-emerge as a innovated artistic expression elsewhere.
Our societies have changed over the years; while in the old days, governing was a purely "imperious" matter, our internet age has brought information closer to the public. Government decisions are hardly kept locked behind dusty cabinet-walls, but are sooner published and known to people than in the past. Not just because of unwanted information leaks, also because the governments' press departments publish decisions, which were officially not even made yet.
Concurrently, for the past few years we see an alarming mismanagement in public organisations like the National Opera, Radio Symphony Orchestra, even the Slovak Philharmonic. Nevertheless, non of the involved competent parties (as would be your Ministry for instance, as the highest organ) ever visibly implemented a change in order to come to a solution. Still the responsible people are held accountable. Rumours are spreading, discussions occur on different web-forums, and none of them are being seriously addressed (at least to clarify and take away the unrest).
You hold office, because you are entrusted with good governance. Indeed, it could be argued that governments should not interfere in cultural matters. This is true, up to the point, when cultural institutions are undergoing severe abuse from its managers. It is your responsibility to interfere in such a situation. Although Slovakia is a member of the EU, even within the Schengen-Area, yet one gets almost the feeling of living in an African country, where politicians do as they please. This is not the mandate of your society and it is not a behaviour which fits in the EU-setting.
As I set forth in my previous article, good governance needs a set of minimal requirements. Only then, the credibility of management and leadership can be restored. The media and verified sources unfortunately tell another reality. Good leadership requires adequate decisions. Or else, your Department might start considering a new name; Ministry of Cultural Destruction. I think, none of us would appreciate that.
MS
You hold office because of a political consequence, where the public have elected you (albeit your party) into a position to form a coalition-government, which in numbers has a majority in Parliament, BUT it still implies there is political responsibility for the whole society.
You hold office at a Department, which is supervising among others a varied and interesting area in your nation's life: Culture, as we could all agree, is a substantial, unique and inseparable part of people's lifes. Although it happens today and now, some of the cultural strings go far back into history. Next to a specific national character it has also international connections, as culture has always gone over national borders, forming a symbiosis of colourful flavours to re-emerge as a innovated artistic expression elsewhere.
Our societies have changed over the years; while in the old days, governing was a purely "imperious" matter, our internet age has brought information closer to the public. Government decisions are hardly kept locked behind dusty cabinet-walls, but are sooner published and known to people than in the past. Not just because of unwanted information leaks, also because the governments' press departments publish decisions, which were officially not even made yet.
Concurrently, for the past few years we see an alarming mismanagement in public organisations like the National Opera, Radio Symphony Orchestra, even the Slovak Philharmonic. Nevertheless, non of the involved competent parties (as would be your Ministry for instance, as the highest organ) ever visibly implemented a change in order to come to a solution. Still the responsible people are held accountable. Rumours are spreading, discussions occur on different web-forums, and none of them are being seriously addressed (at least to clarify and take away the unrest).
You hold office, because you are entrusted with good governance. Indeed, it could be argued that governments should not interfere in cultural matters. This is true, up to the point, when cultural institutions are undergoing severe abuse from its managers. It is your responsibility to interfere in such a situation. Although Slovakia is a member of the EU, even within the Schengen-Area, yet one gets almost the feeling of living in an African country, where politicians do as they please. This is not the mandate of your society and it is not a behaviour which fits in the EU-setting.
As I set forth in my previous article, good governance needs a set of minimal requirements. Only then, the credibility of management and leadership can be restored. The media and verified sources unfortunately tell another reality. Good leadership requires adequate decisions. Or else, your Department might start considering a new name; Ministry of Cultural Destruction. I think, none of us would appreciate that.
MS
No comments:
Post a Comment