Recently, two major clusters of PA reforms dominated CEE and CIS countries. One focused on democratisation (and the subsequent transparent policy-making, public participation, fight against corruption, respect of human rights, etc.), whilst the other struggled with the NPM’s "to do list” (disaggregation, competition and extrinsic motivation). Late in the last decade, post-NPM reforms took charge: actions supporting the Whole of Government and Joined-up Government, New Public Governance, and Digital Governance. Regarding the fragmentation of public services induced by NPM, post-NPM replied with coordination and re-centralisation; to the lack of efficiency arguably caused by NPM, and the duplication of programmes, projects and policies, post-NPM supported joined-up arrangements and insourcing.

For the 23rd NISPAcee Annual Conference, Working Group IV on PAR welcomes papers addressing the dilemma between insourcing and outsourcing in a transition institutional context, the effects of in/outsourcing on the provision of public services, and creative solutions to the above named dilemmas. Contributions analysing single and multi-country settings, employing both quantitative and qualitative design and research methods, are encouraged and expected. Successful applications will include at least one of the following:

• Theoretical overviews on insourcing and outsourcing as reforms in CEE and CIS.

• Interesting case studies discussing insourcing and outsourcing in CEE and CIS countries.

• Longitudinal research in Public administrative reform in CEE and/or CIS.

• Relevance of recommendation points for practitioners.