Democracy & Public Policy Making: Governance and Good Governance

Twenty vocabulary flashcards summarising key terms and concepts related to governance and good governance from the lecture notes.

Governance

The way a society sets and manages the rules guiding policy-making and implementation, involving the exercise of public power and interactions among government, market, and civil society.

Good Governance

A form of governance that manages public resources efficiently, equitably, and responsively, characterised by participation, rule of law, transparency, accountability, responsiveness, consensus, equity, effectiveness, and efficiency.

Globalization

The stretching of social relations and institutions across space and time; identified as the key driver behind emerging patterns of good governance.

Economic Governance

Decision-making processes that affect a country’s internal and external economic activities, determining wealth production, distribution, and quality of life; largely guided by the private sector.

Political Governance

Legitimate political decision-making and policy implementation based on separated powers, pluralism, and regular citizen participation in elections.

Administrative Governance

Policy implementation carried out through an efficient, independent, accountable, and open public sector.

Systemic Governance

A governance approach that fuses economic, political, and administrative governance into a unified system.

Participation

Involvement of citizens and stakeholders in creating, monitoring, reviewing, and ending policies that affect their lives.

Rule of Law

Fair legal frameworks enforced impartially with full protection of human rights, especially for minorities.

Transparency

Public knowledge and open scrutiny of government policies, actions, regulations, and accounts; decisions follow rules and information is freely accessible.

Responsiveness

The ability of institutions and processes to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.

Consensus Orientation

Mediation of differing interests to reach broad agreement on what benefits the whole community.

Equity & Inclusiveness

Ensuring all members of society feel they have a stake and are not excluded from mainstream opportunities.

Effectiveness & Efficiency

Producing results that meet societal needs while making the best use of available resources.

Accountability

Obligation of governmental, private sector, and civil society institutions to answer to the public and stakeholders for their actions.

Corruption

Misuse of public power for private gain, leading to economic inefficiency, distorted development, undermined rule of law, and eroded trust.

Pillars of Governance

The three foundational actors in governance systems: the state, private sector, and civil society.

Attributes of Good Governance

A set of characteristics including participation, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, consensus, equity, effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability.

Bad Governance

Governance marked by blurred public-private boundaries, unpredictable legal frameworks, excessive regulation, misallocated resources, and non-transparent decision-making.

Effective State

A state that creates an enabling political and legal environment for economic growth and equitable resource distribution; one of the key pillars of good governance.