Home⇛Journal of Education, Management, and Development Studies⇛vol. 3 no. 2 (2023)

[Re] Introducing the Concept ‘Intra-Local Governmental Relations’ for Proper and Future Usage in Public Administration Research and Education: A Possible Case for Bathos

Arthur Shopola | Ricky Mukonza

Discipline: management studies

 

Abstract:

This paper is conceptual in its orientation and seeks to caution emerging researchers (especially in public administration) against overlooking or demeaning important subjects or concepts to simple or ordinary ones. Specifically, we refer to ‘intra-local governmental relations (ILGR)’ as a concept that has suffered the exact cause of negation to argue for its proper usage in the future. This concept is found within the orbit of intergovernmental relations (IGR) and is a term of reference for various internal municipality relations within the local sphere of government. It is suspected that because of the inherent similarities and motherhood relationship between IGR and ILGR, researchers and policymakers have failed to draw differences between the two concepts, which is confusing. The extent of this confusion may lead to a suggestion that these concepts are inseparable and, therefore, can be used to explain each one’s context. Such extrapolation is characterized as a divergent and generalist conceptual approach often unaware of governmental relations’ important groupings (classifications). In response, this paper proposes ILGR as a proper terminology to explain various relationships between units or departments and officials within the same municipality in the local sphere of government. By collecting and unpacking data from the existing research outputs, books, journal articles, and government publications, the current paper finally realized its objective, which was to re-introduce ILGR into the academic discourse, and the anticipation is that emerging Public Administration researchers and scholars will use the concept properly and correctly.



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