Meaning of Governance

Understanding Politics as about governing requires us to differentiate between

the concepts of “governing” and “government”. The notion of governing is broader
and has a wider applicability than government.

Government: is term generally used to describe the formal institutions through

which a group of people is ruled or governance.

Governing: on the other hand, includes institutions other than those of the
government that are involved in governing, at least in the broadest sense. These
other institutions can include labor and trade unions, corporations, universities,
church organizations, social movement organizations (Leftwitch 2011, 10).

Governance: does not only refer to the rules, procedures, and formal organizations
of government. They also include informal institutions loosely understood as “the
customs, norms of behavior, unwritten rules, or generally agreed ways of doing
things within a society and …conventions within the culture covering social
interaction, marriage customs and burial ceremonies

Government and Governance

Government is defined as the group of people with the authority to govern a country
or state, a particular ministry in office (Oxford Dictionary). It is the instrument of the
state through which the will of the people is expressed, carried out, and formulated.
Thus, the government serves as the bridge that connects the people to the state.

On the other hand, governance is defined as the process of decision-making and the
process by which decisions are implemented. At present, the terms government and
governance are also used with confusion to a large extent. As an institution, it is the
government which concretizes the policies and addresses the problems of the state.
Good governance spring up when the government involves the people in its agenda
and in the process of policy making. The extent, therefore, to which democratic
participation is encouraged determines whether governance exists.

To study governments, geographers look at the following: Types – Who rules

and who participates? Systems – How the power is distributed?

Types of Government are based on one key question: Who governs and what is
the citizen participation? There are three types of governments: Autocracy,
Oligarchy, and Democracy

Autocracy.; Government in which the power to govern is held by one person.

Generally the power to rule is inherited or by military force. There are three
types of Autocracy.
#1 Dictatorship The leader has not been elected and uses force to control all
aspects of social and economic life. Examples: Adolf Hitler in Germany and
Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union

#2 Absolute Monarchy A monarchy has a king, queen, emperor or empress.

The power is usually inherited or passed down from family members. The
monarch has absolute power meaning they can make all decisions without
consulting anyone.

#3 Constitutional Monarchy Kings, queens or emperors share power with

elected legislatures. Generally they are nothing more than figureheads
(ceremonial). The government is a democratic one that limits the monarchs
power. Example: Great Britain

Oligarchy A government in which a few people such as a dominant clan or

clique have power. The group gets their power from either military, wealth or
social status. Elections may be held but offer only one candidate. Example:
Greek city states

Democracy In a democracy, the government is “Ruled by the people” There are

two forms of democracy
Direct Democracy – People vote on all the issues.
Representative Democracy – People elect representatives and give them the
power to vote on issues. Example: United States

According to UNESCO for Asia and the Pacific, the following are the characteristics of
good governance: participation, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, consensus
oriented, effectiveness and efficiency, and accountability.

The citizens’ satisfaction with their government is a determinant of governance. Governance demands
both the political will of policy officials and the participation of citizens. This only means that you are
also part of governance.

 Participation
All men and women should have a voice in decision-making, either directly or
through legitimate intermediate institutions that represent their interests. Such
broad participation is built on freedom of association and speech, as well as
capacities to participate constructively.
 Rule of law
Legal frameworks should be fair and enforced impartially, particularly the laws
on human rights.
 Transparency
Transparency is built on the free flow of information. Processes, institutions
and information are directly accessible to those concerned with them, and
enough information is provided to understand and monitor them.

 Responsiveness
Institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders.
 Consensus orientation
Good governance mediates differing interests to reach a broad consensus on
what is in the best interests of the group and,. where possible, on policies and
procedures.
 Equity
All men and women have opportunities to improve or maintain their well-
being.
 Effectiveness and efficiency
Processes and institutions produce results that meet needs while making the
best use of resources.
 Accountability
Decision-makers in government, the private sector and civil society
organisations are accountable to the public, as well as to institutional
stakeholders. This accountability differs depending on the organisations and
whether the decision is internal or external to an organisation.
 Strategic vision
Leaders and the public have a broad and long-term perspective on good
governance and human development, along with a sense of what is needed for
such development. There is also an understanding of the historical, cultural and
social complexities in which that perspective is grounded.