The Emergence and Spread of the Ombudsman Institution

Abstract

Though the Ombudsman institution was originated a century and a half ago in Sweden, it began to be popularized only from the middle of the 1950's when Denmark had successfully adopted the system. By 1968, widespread acceptance of the system is seen in both the developed and developing countries alike. Great Britain has now become the first large country to adopt the institution; Guyana has become the first developing country to do so. It is anticipated that by 1970 several more countries will join the "International Ombudsman Club." The success of the institution is due mainly to the flexibility of the system and its adaptability to countries with different political and administrative backgrounds. This has been sufficiently demonstrated by the operation of the system in New Zealand and the Scandinavian countries. The Ombudsman system may not work as well in many developing countries, but its adoption will be worth-while, nevertheless, because it can perform two significant functions at which all developing countries are aiming—to promote the general efficiency of administration and to bridge the gap between the government and the people.