Types of Communication between Authorities of Public Administration (Case of the Czech Republic)

The paper addresses, on the case of municipalities of the Czech Republic, the issue of communication of public administration authorities with the general public. It asks the question what are the types of communication between public administration and the public? There were uncovered the following basic communication types (approaches): passive, pragmatic and participatory. The passive approach is characterised by a low participatory degree of communication between public administration authorities and the public. The communication takes place because public administration is legally obliged to do so. Within the pragmatic approach there comes to a proactive communication. It takes place at an impulse of public administration, mostly ad hoc (selectively) and usually ex post. The highest communication type is the "participatory approach". In this type of communication, the citizen assumes the role of a partner with respect to public administration. Addressing of issues and communicating on them is based on ex ante analysis, anticipation and partnerships.