PO102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Good Governance, Social Mobility, Bertelsmann Foundation
Governance
The fact that we are a democracy
● Provides a process for deciding who makes decisions = citizens
● Provides a process for choosing our representatives = majority rule
● A set of values that underpin our decision-making = political liberty and political equity
So democracy is good but are there other ways to judge a country?
How do we judge a country’s performance?
Reading link on lecture agenda
Definitions
● Governance: “The capacity of governments to make and implement policy - in other
words, to steer society”
● “The making and implementing of decisions often with the involvement of state and non-
state organizations” p28
Governance relates to…
● The process of decision making
● And the implementation of decisions
○ Capacity to craft a good policy and implement it… in a society, a company, or an
organization
Governance is about performance
When assessing a country’s governance we should ask…
● Can the govt identify and handle pressing problems?
● How good is it at implementing solutions?
This week’s reading outlines 8 characteristics of good governance
● Participatory
● Consensus oriented
● Accountable
● Transparent
● Responsive
● Effective and efficient
● Equitable and inclusive
● Follows rule of law
PROCESS is key!
● Who is invited to the table (more people touched by problem you are trying to resolve -
better)
● Govt is only one player, who else?
○ Business, NGOs, academics, citizens, experts… depends on the issue
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Provides a process for deciding who makes decisions = citizens. Provides a process for choosing our representatives = majority rule. A set of values that underpin our decision-making = political liberty and political equity. Governance: the capacity of governments to make and implement policy - in other words, to steer society . The making and implementing of decisions often with the involvement of state and non- state organizations p28. Capacity to craft a good policy and implement it in a society, a company, or an organization. When assessing a country"s governance we should ask . This week"s reading outlines 8 characteristics of good governance. Who is invited to the table (more people touched by problem you are trying to resolve - better) Business, ngos, academics, citizens, experts depends on the issue. What information is public / how much is given to public. Hides some info because it doesn"t want to be criticized.
