Weakness of Collaboration between Citizens and Public Administration

In Case of the Civic Activity Support Center of Saitama City

Abstract

The Civic Activity Support Center of Saitama City received a good reputation with respect to collaborative management with citizens and city. The local ordinance was changed without any consultation to relevant citizens. Both the rationale and decision-making process of the change are not appropriate. The change revealed weakness of collaboration between citizens and city; local politics do not obey the basic local assembly ordinance; city is lack of intention to support civic activities; citizens do not consider local politics. The change heavily damaged reliance and collaboration between citizens and city, oppressed civic activities, degraded functions of the Center, and increased operating costs. To promote the collaboration again, the reliance should be recovered and citizen participation must be secured with local ordinance when any rule relevant to civic activities and collaboration is changed or introduced.