Governance (Pols 220)

Introduction

Governance is a broad and often contested concept, with its precise meaning shifting depending on the level at which it is applied, the goals being pursued, and the approach adopted. The note below sets out several perspectives on what governance entails.

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Body

Governance means different things to different people—its actual meaning depends on the level of governance being discussed, the goals to be achieved, and the approach being followed. Generally, governance is seen as the art or process of governing, especially authoritative direction and control. The British Council, however, emphasizes that governance involves the interactions between formal institutions and civil society. In other words, governance refers to a process whereby elements in society wield power, authority, and influence in order to enact policies and decisions concerning public life and the deployment of social commitments.

Governance, therefore, not only encompasses but transcends the collective meaning of related concepts like the State, government, and regimes. It implies a high level of organizational effectiveness in relation to policy formulation—especially in the conduct of economic policy—and its contribution to economic growth, stability, and popular welfare. Finally, according to the World Bank, governance is epitomized by predictable, open, and enlightened policy making; a bureaucracy imbued with a professional ethos acting in furtherance of the public good; the rule of law; transparent processes; and a strong civil society participating in public affairs.

Conclusion

Taken together, these perspectives show governance as a multi-layered concept—part process, part institutional interaction, and part normative standard—that goes beyond the narrower ideas of "state," "government," or "regime" to capture how power and authority are actually exercised for public ends.