Accountability in local government (The case of region)

One of the most prevalent concepts that is used in contemporary public administration is accountability. Although accountability in public administration developed in modern era, it has begun to change since 1980s. Development in information and communication technologies as well as social, economic, political and administrative developments has moved the meaning of accountability beyond classical perception and it paved way for multi directional, pluralist point on the concept. Public administration, therefore, has become more accountable to society through compliance of laws, quality, performance, ethic principles and standards, transparency and governance mechanisms.The change that occurred in perception of accountability has been evident in Turkey following the public administration reforms in the second half of 2000s. One of the fields in which these reforms were performed is local government. The main objective in local government reforms and other reforms of public administration is to compose more active, efficient, participatory, transparent and accountable structure of local government.Accordingly, the primary purpose of this study is to present response of accountability perception on local government after 2000s in Turkey in terms of legal, institutional and practical aspects. Main hypothesis of the study is that local government reforms and other reforms occurred in the field of public administration have given birth to plurality in accountability mechanisms of local government and they have increased the level of accountability in local government of Turkey.Within this framework, first of all, conceptual framework of the accountability is laid down. Then, main findings of a field study are represented. The field study aims to evaluate to what extend new accountability mechanisms have been put into reality in special provincial administrations and municipalities with a population of 50.000 in Marmara Region.