Ombudsman As Promotor Of Good Governance : The case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia

This study investigates the role of the ombudsman as a promotor of good governance. It is based on case studies from three Balkan countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia. The main question is how the performance of National Ombudsman as a promoter of good governance can be improved. Although good governance comprises nine different principles, the main focus is set on accountability. Comparing the effective or ineffective performance of the ombudsman in three countries leads to the conclusion that the degree of influence depends on several factors: the existence of a minimum level of democratic governance, the co-operation of the government with the Institution, the independence of the Institution and the financial resources. Despite the fact that the current study has been based on case studies from three countries, it is likely that main conclusions can be applied to other Balkan countries which share the history of transition democracies.