Governance and inclusive democracy

Research on governance by external non-state actors in areas of limited statehood concentrates on the conditions under which these actors engage in governance. However, this literature largely ignores findings from research on the anthropology of development, the privatization of security, and non-state welfare provision in developing countries that point to the limitations and negative effects of governance by non-state actors. Hence there are many reasons to distinguish carefully between different qualities of governance contributions and the (unintended) effects of external actors' practices. This paper deals with the quality of governance in that it suggests an analytical framework for distinguishing different qualities along three dimensions: inclusiveness, the indirect effects of governance, and the external effects of non-governance practices. Empirically, the paper focuses on multinational companies in sub-Saharan Africa. This is for two reasons. Firstly, the literature on business and governance noticeably isolates the positive contributions by firms from the negative effects of business activities in areas of limited statehood. Secondly, the case of companies -actors that do not aim at contributing to governance in the first place -clearly illustrates the added value of distinguishing different qualities of governance contributions. This is also relevant, however, for other governance actors.

H-ermes: Journal of Communication, 2014

The aim of this paper is to propose a theoretical reflection on the possible transformations of democracy in globalized societies. In this direction, the Author outlines the classical approaches to the analysis of democracy and then proposes a criticism of the static picture offered by the liberal conception. In the wake of Charles Tilly, a process-oriented and dynamic conception is proposed, by declining democracy in terms of democratization (and potential de-democratization). In this paper the different theoretical challenges to liberal democracy are also proposed, starting from the participatory conception that assumes the core of the democratic political process in contentious action of organized civil society. Special attention is also paid to the challenge of deliberative democracy in its two versions, liberal and deliberative. The paper then tries to figure out how to adapt these theoretical proposals to the new conditions of trans-local societies, from a rethinking of the co...

1999

For the last twenty years, the concept of participation has been widely used in the discourse of development. For much of this period, the concept has referred to participation in the social arena, in the community or in development projects. Increasingly, however, the concept of participation is being related to rights of citizenship and to democratic governance. Nowhere is

This paper proposes to explore "the issues of exclusion and inclusion in decentralized local governance institutions in India". It also tries to explore how the marginalized groups are excluded in the decentralized democratic process. It further tries to examine an important area relating to exclusion of Panchayat institutions in situations of political conflict or economic contestation. It also examines in detail the provisions for reservations for SCs, STs, OBCs and women; it analyzes the various dimensions of the interrelated concept of inclusion and exclusion. It also examines the problem of why the local governance institutions get excluded from the process of development and governance. Further it assesses the marginalized groups' awareness of Panchayati Raj, their perception of Panchayati Raj, their participation in Panchayati Raj programmes as functionaries and as beneficiaries and the extent to which they are benefited in different areas of operation of Panchayati Raj institutions. In pursuance of this study the researcher also tries to solve the questions arises in the mind. The key research questions are: How do the larger political and economic forces isolate, bypass or even co-opt the local governance? Who crafts the politics and practices of exclusion and how are these are played out and perpetuated? What are the manifestations of exclusion in day to day functioning of local governments? Who excludes who? Who represents on behalf of whom? How exclusion is officially legitimized? How do marginalized groups get organized to target local governments to be more inclusive? What are different forms of violence that are directed against the marginalized when they attempt to enter Panchayat institutions? Who creates violence and in which manner? In-depth research on both macro political and economic contexts as well as micro social contexts as described above is expected to generate knowledge about the dynamics of exclusion -inclusion and the ways to promote substantive and meaningful inclusion of the marginalized in decentralized local governance. Finally in the concluding summary, observations and findings the author tries to delineate some important suggestions for further policy paradigms. In fact, the conclusion makes humble attempts to manifest the core aspects of the present research work relating to the topic for academic debate and policy dialogue.

LASU Journal of Humanities, Education and Law, 2022

Contemporary models of democracy are at best representative in nature as a result of the size of the modern state. This has the unfortunate side effect of ostracising the people, whose opportunity to actively participate in governance is reduced to the period of elections, thereby minimising harnessing the regular contributions of the people to democratic consolidation. Thus, there is the need to fashion out ways through which the contributions of the people can be garnered towards strengthening the developmental outcomes of democracy. The argument pursued in this paper is that the local government should be restructured in such a way that it will put governance in the hands of the people, thus returning to the original intention of democracy, as was obtained in its cradle Athens. This is possible at the local government level because the population therein is limited when compared to that of the state. Thus, this paper uses Nigeria as a case study to argue for the need to have smaller political institutions able to better accommodate the participation of the people. It is pointed out that the local government as we have it in Nigeria presently is dysfunctional as a result of the interference of the state and federal governments in the affairs of the local government. This has to be addressed leading to the devolution of more powers to the local government in Nigeria.

2022

2002

Rural governance: international …, 2007

Masters of Governance and Public Policy Course: POLS7101 Dynamics of Governance, 2010

DYNAMICS OF GOVERNANCE Research Paper: 'The vitality of ‘Governance through Community and Citizenship Engagement’ in the 21st Century. What are the rationales and best-practice methods for engaging citizens and communities in governance practices through, and what are the various ways in which the dynamism of community-led associations can be used in governance practices? - Case Study on the implementation of the new Regional Development Australia ‘partnership’ initiative 2008-2010 for the Logan and Redlands Region in Queensland.'  Abstract: "The state-centred relational model of Governance for Australia holds true in the 21st century in both Federal and State levels of power and rule. However, it is underpinned through the dynamism of the nature of the relational aspect as shown through the modes of Governance of Community Engagement, and to a much lesser extent by Governance through Associations, which thus is the “glue” that holds it together with the relational aspect. It is this dynamism of engagement governance that allows for a more effective and legitimate governance arrangement to prevail in the modern Australian democratic context. The case study of the establishment of the Regional Development Australia Logan & Redlands Inc, one of the ‘community-run non-government organisations’ setup as part of the 2008 Federal Government Regional Development Australia initiative, as part of the partnership initiative of the Australian Government and Queensland Government for this sub-region of South-East Queensland, provides a good case study of why and how community engagement helps the governments to increase their governance effectiveness and legitimacy for this sub-region. But it also poses many questions – some of which are due to the early implementation stage - such as those base on the political philosophy kind, but also those of basic engagement methods, and the actual effectiveness of such organisations that clearly lack any capacity and are brought into existence due to the governments allocating funds to these projects, as opposed to a grass-roots springing forth of civil society in Australia."