Between Normative Ambition and Practical Reality: The Limits of New Public Governance in Algeria

Abstract

The modernization of public management represents a central challenge for contemporary states, particularly in contexts where governance systems remain heavily centralized. In Algeria, the reform agenda has increasingly invoked the principles of digitalization, decentralization, and participatory democracy as pathways toward transparency, legitimacy, and responsiveness. Drawing on academic literature, policy documents, and comparative insights, this study employs a qualitative, analytical, and critical methodology to assess the trajectory of these reforms. The findings reveal a paradoxical dynamic: while digitalization has improved service accessibility and visibility since the acceleration of reforms in 2020, its impact remains uneven due to structural inertia, the digital divide, and weak regulatory frameworks. Similarly, decentralization, although constitutionally recognized and supported by initiatives such as the CapDeL project, continues to be constrained by strong central oversight, limiting local autonomy. Participatory democracy, though formally endorsed, remains largely symbolic, with citizen involvement in decision-making processes still marginal. Taken together, the analysis underscores that Algeria’s governance reforms embody a case of symbolic convergence without substantive transformation. Rather than producing an integrated model of New Public Governance, reforms have yielded fragmented and partial outcomes, highlighting the need for stronger institutional mechanisms and genuine political commitment. These findings contribute to broader debates on governance transitions in developing contexts, particularly regarding the adaptation of reform models originally designed in and for developed countries.