Good governance

Good governance is a model for how states, other political entities, or business entities should govern and be governed. In practice, good governance is a subset of governance, the process through which decisions are made and carried out—or not carried out—by those who govern. Good governance depends upon adherence to fundamental values such as accountability, fairness, equality, transparency, justice, and ethics. When viewed from a political perspective, good governance is a key part of a government’s responsibility to maintain a higher quality of life for its people. Among international governmental agencies like the United Nations, good governance is often used to promote reform in countries where poor standards of governance have led to political oppression, loss of civil rights, or other similar issues. In any event, good governance serves as a useful guide to how any state government or other organizational authority should approach the challenge of governing.

Background

The concept of good governance is closely tied to the broader idea of governance. Governance refers to both the process of decision-making and the process through which decisions are implemented or not implemented. While it is most often associated with national, state, or local government, the idea of governance can also apply to business leadership or other forms of leadership. Whatever the context, governance involves a large number of formal and informal actors, as well as various formal and informal structures that are part of the process of arriving at decisions and putting them into practice.

In the traditional context of state government, the primary actor in governance is, of course, the government itself. The other actors involved in this form of governance may vary depending on the level of government being examined. On local and state levels, rural and urban communities often feature different actors in governance. In rural communities, these actors may include landlords, farmer associations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), cooperatives, research institutes, financial institutions, political parties, religious leaders, and others. In addition to all these parties, urban communities also often feature actors in governance like trade unions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and others. On the national level, other actors in governance include the media, lobbyists, foreign donors, multinational corporations, and more. In most cases, all actors aside from the government itself are lumped together and considered to be part of what is referred to as “civil society.” Not all actors in governance are part of civil society. In some nations where crime is a particularly serious problem, organized crime syndicates may be powerful enough to also effectively function as an actor in governance.

A variety of formal and informal government structures are also involved in governance. Formal government structures include those that are actually a direct part of the government itself, including legislatures, executive agencies, courts, and other similar bodies. Informal government structures are more varied. At the national level, these may include informal cabinets or groups of advisors. At lower levels of government, informal structures may include locally powerful families or organized crime syndicates. Regardless of intent, and for better or worse, any organization that influences decision-making plays a part in governance.

Overview

Good governance is a positive approach to governance that generally allows for the achievement of the best possible outcomes. It is typically responsible, ethical, and fair. Good governance has eight main characteristics. These include participation, transparency, responsiveness, consensus, inclusiveness, effectiveness, accountability, and deference to the rule of law.

Open participation is one of the most important aspects of good governance. In any system of good governance, people must be allowed to participate in their government directly and/or indirectly. Direct participation means being afforded the opportunity to actually serve in government as an elected official. Indirect participation may be conducted through intermediate institutions or representatives. In any event, it is critical that participation is informed and organized. Good governance cannot truly be achieved if the people who are involved in a particular system of government are not adequately prepared to participate to the best of their abilities.

Transparency is another key element of good governance. Transparency essentially means that all decision-making and enforcement of decisions is carried out according to established rules. It also means all pertinent information should be made readily available and accessible to the people who will be affected by these decisions. Transparency also means ensuring that information is provided in an understandable manner.

In terms of responsiveness, good governance refers to institutions that make an effort to serve all of their stakeholders within a reasonable amount of time. This requires institutions to be mindful of how much time they spend making decisions to ensure that matters are settled in as timely a manner as possible.

Because there are many people with many different views within a society, good governance requires mediation of varying interests. This allows institutions to arrive at a consensus as to what is in the best interest of the society as a whole. Similarly, good governance also requires a long-term, agreed-upon perspective on what a society needs to ensure sustainable development and how best to achieve that development.

Inclusiveness is one of the most important aspects of good governance. All people in a society must feel that they are fully included in that society regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, or other characteristics. A feeling of being included is particularly important for the most vulnerable or marginalized members of a society.

Good governance also requires a commitment to effectiveness and efficiency. This means that institutions must strive to meet society’s needs while making the best possible use of the resources they have at their disposal. Accountability is a fundamental part of good governance. Government institutions and other organizations must be accountable to those who are affected by the decisions they make.

Finally, good governance requires deference to the rule of law. Institutions must operate within the letter of established laws, and those laws must be enforced fairly and impartially. This requires an independent judicial system and an enforcement arm that is free from corruption. Along similar lines, good governance also requires an unwavering commitment to the protection of human rights.

Bibliography

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