THE BHOPAL SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

UNIT I

Good Governance

 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
o Instrument through which goals and objectives of the State are accomplished
 major goal is governance.
o Govt. is a subset of governance  the formal institutions and structures
responsible for the governance of a country or a specific jurisdiction.
 GOVERNMENT V. GOVERNANCE
o Government: narrower in scope; fixed agency
 formal institutions and structures that have the authority to make and
enforce laws and policies within a political system.
 executive, legislative, and judicial branches responsible for governing
a country or a specific jurisdiction.
 often established through legal frameworks, such as constitutions, and
have the power to exercise authority over the population, collect taxes,
provide public services, and enforce laws.
o Governance: the broader system and processes of decision-making, policy
formulation, and implementation within a society or organization.
 The way the government gets its job done
 actions of formal government institutions + interactions between
various actors, such as government bodies, civil society organizations,
businesses, and citizens.
 includes both formal and informal structures, practices, and
relationships that shape how power is exercised, resources are
allocated, and decisions are made.

*Edited & Compiled for Students by:

KALYANI JAIN
Assistant Professor
Political Science (Humanities)
The Bhopal School of Social Sciences
 THE BHOPAL SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Class : Political Science Subject : Good Governance
Unit : Unit I

 GOVERNANCE
o Rosenau (1992): “Governance is a more encompassing phenomenon than
government. It embraces governmental institutions, but it also subsumes
informal, non-governmental mechanisms whereby those persons and
organizations within its purview move ahead, satisfy their needs, and fulfill
their wants ...Governance is thus a system of rule that is as dependent on
inter-subjective meanings as on formally sanctioned constitution and charter
...... it is possible to conceive of governance without government – of
regulatory mechanisms in a sphere of activity, which function effectively even
though they are not endowed with formal authority”
o NOT just about the organs of government
 concerned more about the quality of the functioning of various
governing organs.
o Jamil Jreisat (2004): governance -> 2 basic questions
 Who Governs?  power/resource distribution in society
 How Well?  elements like effective institution, efficient methods of
operation, equitable policy outcomes
o Traditional v. Modern Governance
 Traditional: government solely responsible for
formulating/implementing policy decisions
 reliance on bureaucracy  hierarchal organization, adherence
to rules, notions of permanence and neutrality (Think - Weber)
 Citizens as passive acceptors of goods and services
(beneficiaries of a welfare state)
 Modern: (impact of globalization)
 Greater citizen participation in governmental affairs
 Aim of strengthening quality and effectiveness of policy
making and outcomes
 Need to check state power  fear of abuse.
 THE BHOPAL SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Class : Political Science Subject : Good Governance
Unit : Unit I

o Conceptual Background
 Significance since 1990s
 World Bank published 2 reports:
 “Sub-Saharan Africa: From Crisis to Sustainable Growth”
(1989), emphasized upon the need for good governance.
o Key factors that thwarted the implementation of
successful market-oriented reforms
 (Globalization  SAPs failure/ slow progress)
 Concept of Governance as a new approach to development
 [talk later about this] “Governance and Development” (1992)
o Scope
 Efficient/effective administration in a democratic framework
 Tool to promote good government.
o Good Government  high level of organisational
effectiveness in relation to policy formulation and the
policies pursued, especially in the conduct of economic
policy and its contribution to growth, stability and
popular welfare. {John Healy & Mark Robinson}
 Basic Aim  to establish quality relationship between ‘good
government’ and the ‘governed’ or citizens.
 To widen the scope of public adminintration by stretching
beyond formal ‘governments’  collective problem solving
instead of individualized decision-making  transparency,
open and accountable
 A system of governance that promotes, supports and sustains
human development especially for the poorest and the marginal
o NPM v Governance:
 THE BHOPAL SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Class : Political Science Subject : Good Governance
Unit : Unit I

 NPM: to introduce the element of 'market-orientation' in Public

Administration (1980s management approach)
 achieving efficiency and performance
 improve service delivery quality
 roll-back of the state + market led growth in a globalized
context
 increased competition in the process  citizens as consumers
 Keywords – economy and efficiency
 Governance: interaction amongst government, market forces, CSOs 
cooperation to achieve desired outcomes
 Aim: enhancing the quality of life
 Significant role of citizens  public participation in decision
making processes
 Keywords: transparency, accountability, participation,
inclusiveness, and responsiveness, equity, social justice