After the execution of local autonomy, the power structure of local society has been changed greatly centering around local council and the provincial governor · the mayor elected by the residents. Under local autonomy, the central government can not...
After the execution of local autonomy, the power structure of local society has been changed greatly centering around local council and the provincial governor · the mayor elected by the residents. Under local autonomy, the central government can not dictate the policies of the local community nor can it exact obedience from residents. Instead local residents participate directly in the formation of policies that affect their welfare.
However, it is still uncertain whether or not residents pluralistic benefit is well reflected in the process of local government policy decision-making or whether or not, the members of the local council are performing their duties of shaping the public opinion and mediating disputes between the interested parties.
Starting with these problems, this study will appraise the policy initiative of local council in the policy-making process for community, investigate problems, and also explore ways to strengthen the policy initiative.
First, this study analyzes the policy of the unification of small-sized schools and the enactment of regulations about the committee of the second establishment of the country. Both of these cases were surveyed in two regions and resulted in responses of resistance from the residents. Then the case about the establishment of Kyongbuk provincial college and the policy of Wichon industrial complex construction in Taegu metropolitan city are presented as good examples of a local council's affirmative activity.
Research surveys of local council members who participated in each policy was carried out. An area comparative study of province of Kyongsangbuk-Do and Taegu metropolitan city was conducted.
The theoretical framework for this study is inferred from elitism, pluralism, growth machine and regime theory among community power structure theory. Generally in plural power structure theory, the policy initiative of local council is more powerful.
It appraises the influence of local council and highlights the problems in the policy decision-making structure, through interaction to those policies by local council, the administrative organizations, the central government, political parties, residents, mass media and citizens associations.
Consequently, the result of the study shows that local councils make decisions mostly in deference to the administrative organizations intention, and therefore there are many problems in its role and actions. It is found that the policy decision-making structure of local government is unitary and that participants are limited. In Taegu metropolitan city, the application of pluralism is easier than in province of Kyongsangbuk-Do, a rural community. In a rural community, social relationships are formed by the first group (blood ties, territorial ties, scholastic ties), and so the information network is limited.
That means there is no difference in local politics at this point in the autonomy system because self-regulation has been lost due to a the long continuance of a centralized administration. The present autonomy is in great want of restraints on the provincial governor · the mayor of the local community and causes the inequal redistribution of community power. Therefore the policy initiative of the local council should be strengthened.
To strengthen the policy initiative of local council, the pluralism of the power structure in local society is necessary. The more the policy decision-making process is decentralizational and candid, the more the role of local council will expand. Therefore the pluralism of power structure is a precondition for the fair policy decision-making. It will strengthen the policy initiative of local council and prevent an unfair policy decision-making favorable to a specific group.
As a concrete method of strengthening the policy initiative, the local council's inspection and supervision rights should be reinforced. The policy decision-making process of the local government should be converted to participant system. The scope of policy decision-making by the local council should be expanded. Also the improvement of council office and the specialization of support personnel of the local council are urgently needed. The information network currently through personal networks should be developed into a more plural one. But the most important thing is the policy decision-making ability of local council members which should be supported by specialized support programs.
The purpose of this study was the investigation of local council's phase in the policy process of local government through the community power structure theory of local society, but it may have some limits. It examined only the official policies which were treated in local council because of the difficulties of obtaining materials from all in the community. Also it appraises only the cases of province of Kyongsangbuk-Do and Taegu metropolitan city. Research surveys were made only to council members and council records are referred. So it has the limit biased to specific region and council.