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POL 355 Study Unit 1 Governance & Corruption - Coggle Diagram
POL 355 Study Unit 1
Governance & Corruption
Chapter 1 Governance
What is Governance?
the term ”governance” has differing definitions to different persons. However, there are common elements that could be drawn from the literature, the research work and the practice field of governance
Common elements of governance
to note: whilst there are interlocking relations, there may be differences too. The governance of each sector comes with it the issues and challenges specific to that sector which may not be faced by others. It would not be possible to combine all sectoral analysis together with a study of national governance within one course.
In this course, the focus of governance would be on the concept as applied on the national stage.
Beyond Government
Secondly, governance goes beyond government.
Governance
does not carry the same meaning as government. It
encompasses more than the concept of government
.
It includes the role played by non-government institutions, by civil society, the private sector and the mechanisms that sustain public voice, involvement and engagement
Process/outcome-oriented
Thirdly, governance studies could be focused on the processes, or on the outcomes or a combination of both processes and outcomes.
There are variations in this aspect amongst scholars, which are explained later on in this chapter.
Governance in relations to government
One is that governance relates to government, whether it is an effective government, whether it is doing good, and whether it is responsive and accountable to its citizens.
Therein lies
the need to consider
in governance studies the
type and operation of public institutions
and agencies
through which the government exercises its functions
and delivers public services.
Multi-level concept
Fourthly, governance could refer to a concept applied at a national level, or at a district/local level or at sectoral level.
For instance, governance of the healthcare sector could refer to how well that sector was run and how effective the results were.
The term corporate governance has also been used for a long time to refer to the governance within the private companies and business sector, with a set of rules and guidelines that they need to adhere to.
Why do we study governance?
influence of governance in service delivery
Thirdly, government institutions and public bodies deliver public goods and services.
Governance, especially with its principles of transparency and accountability,
ensures that the outcomes are what the public wants and meet their needs.
It is results that will be derived from the quality of government that is sought after.
Without good governance, the policies and programmes may not lead to intended outcomes.
On the contrary, it may lead to undesirable results such as social inequality, inequitable access to resources and widening income gap.
influence of governance in our economy
Secondly, our commercial, business and economic activities are also regulated and circumscribed by laws, government rules and regulations.
These
laws and rules seek to provide a set of common understanding
and foundation for the transactions and interactions to take place in the business world. There would thus be trust and certainty fostered,
enabling commerce and business to flourish
.
Good governance is essential to ensure that this framework is efficient and serves its purpose.
influence of governance in our life
Firstly, our
private lives and social lives are regulated and bounded by laws, government rules and regulations
. The phrase from “cradle to grave” aptly refers to the wide-ranging influence that laws and rules will have on our daily lives.
These laws and rules
must be efficiently executed
if we want them to provide clarity and direction for us as we go about our lives.
Good governance ensures the system is working according to its design
Interest in both the developing world and the developed world
Developing world
The
international organisations were keen to ensure that development aid and assistance to developing countries were properly used
, according to the intended objectives and plans, to deliver the expected outcomes.
Good governance would help to ensure this end.
On the contrary, poor governance may mean that the funds were wasted, the implementation of development projects was inefficient and/or ineffective and targets were not achieved.
Poor governance also exacerbates problems such as corruption, making it even more difficult for the achievement of the goals in the developmental plans.
That was why international organisations became interested in promoting good governance
and often tie the development assistance to countries to reforms that they could undertake to enhance the state of governance
Developed world
in the developed world, there are also concerns that
if good governance is not maintained, development of their economies and societies may falter
.
The European Union (EU) and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) had published a Sustainable Governance Initiative (SGI) since 2009 (updated in 2011) which served to share best practices and innovation in governance amongst 41 EU and OECD nations.
Werlin studies
According to Werlin, it was the
quality of governance
which would
determine its economic success
. Hence, a country which had rich natural resources but weak governance
From the comparison of countries with poor governance (Jamaica) and courties with good governance (Singapore), the relevant lesson for governance studies are that:
governance is enhanced when public officials
are prepared to listen and be
responsive
to the people
attention is paid by the government to
ensure that the bureaucracy is capable
of delivering the programmes and changes required of them, and
suppression of corruption
was also another plus point for strengthening governance.
Governance Principles and Models
Governance principles and models
.
Three features
different theories of governance reveal that there are three features
Structure and institutions
: Firstly, there is a consideration of the structures and institutions, at the government level, where there is the exercise of authority, as well as at the non-governmental level, where organisations interact with government agencies and institutions.
.
Process
: Secondly, there is a process-related dimension and there are certain
principles that guide how processes work
.
.
Outcome
: Thirdly, there is also an interest in outcomes; what outcomes are derived from the governance.
Rose-Ackerman’s view
In Rose-Ackerman’s view,
good governance
refers to all types of institutional government and regulatory structures that
promote both good substantive outcomes and public legitimacy
.
.
Goals
: The goals of governance reform are twofold:
more effective public policies, and
processes that are legitimate and accountable to the citizenry
.
Applicable to Democratic or authoritarian government
it
does not matter
if the jurisdiction in question has a
democratic or authoritarian
government.
regardless of their form of government,
good governance is required as
there is a
need to roll out policies
and programmes that will deliver the public good and that would
address public concerns.
However, by its nature,
democratic systems do better
in the second goal of addressing public concerns and being accountable to the public. The political system will thus have an impact on the state of governance
Huberts's view
According to Hubert governance referred to
“authoritative policy making
on collective problems and interests and implementation of these policies
.
Four Elements
: There were four elements involved in governance
Authority
- relationship between the governing entity, ie the government, to the collective interests. This authority must be grounded on integrity and ethics if it is to achieve legitimacy
Policy making
Implementation
Collective involvement
.
Hubert's system model
: Huberts recognised that
outcomes were influenced by what went on in policy making
and policy implementation. The complete cycle of policy making to policy implementation goes through the input, throughput and output phases leading to the outcomes.
For this to lead to good quality of outcomes, good governance was necessary.
International Organisations’ definition of governance
The Worldwide Governance Indicators
A means or an end
Governance during a Crisis