THE CONCEPT OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

EFFECTIVE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION ARE INDEED PRACTICES REGARDING GOOD GOVERNANCE

 

 

THE CONCEPT OF GOVERNANCE:  

In distinguishing between Government Activity and governance, we will first state what Governance comprises:

 

“The formal and informal institutions that determine how power is exercised in society, how decisions are taken and how citizens have their say in the process of governing.

Therefore, GOVERNANCE is not the sole concern of Government but of all those involved in public decision making”

UNDESA Public Administration

 

GOVERNANCE is “the exercise of Economic, Political and Administrative authority to manage a country’s affairs at all levels. It comprises the mechanisms, processes and institutions through which citizens and groups articulate their interests, exercise their legal rights, meet their obligations and mediate their differences.” (UNDP , 1997)

 

AN ELUSIVE CONCEPT IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.

It is because Governance PRACTICES and ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURES are GEOGRAPHICALLY, HISTORICALLY and CULTURALLY BOUND.

 

Elements of Good Governance:

 

 

Sign of Poor Governance:

 

GOOD GOVERNANCE as an expression of Participatory and Democratic Governance: 

 

This concept of democratic and participatory governance is characterized by the following features (Khan, 2005)

 

1.Full protection and promotion of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for all;

2.Practice of democracy and respect for human rights, including minority rights;

3.Inclusive political processes, allowing genuine participation by all citizens; and

4.Freedom of the media to perform their essential role and the right of the public to access to information.