Understanding Governance in South Asia

Annual Review of Political Science, 2016

The term governance does not have a settled definition today, and it has at least three main meanings. The first is international cooperation through nonsovereign bodies outside the state system. This concept grew out of the literature on globalization and argued that territorial sovereignty was giving way to more informal types of horizontal cooperation, as well as to supranational bodies such as the European Union. The second meaning treated governance as a synonym for public administration, that is, effective implementation of state policy. Interest in this topic was driven by awareness that global poverty was rooted in corruption and weak state capacity. The third meaning of governance was the regulation of social behavior through networks and other nonhierarchical mechanisms. The first and third of these strands of thought downplay traditional state authority and favor new transnational or civil society actors. These trends, however, raise troubling questions about transparency...

2015

The aim of Public Administration, Governance and Globalization (PAGG) is to publish primary research and theoretical contributions as well as practical reports on fieldwork to help advance the knowledge and understanding about public, nonprofit, private, and non governmental organizations and institutions. The governance, administration, and management of these organizations at local, national, regional, and international levels will be discussed in the context of this age of rapid change and globalization. This series on public management offers original materials that contribute to our better understanding of the critical issues as well as routine processes of governance and public administration, now more than ever because of the intricate forces of globalization that affect almost every nation-states and their policy choices at all jurisdictions across the world. The series covers a wide range of topics that address the key issues of interest to scholars, educators, practitioners, and policymakers in public administration capacities around the globe. Books in the series could be research monographs, edited volumes, textbooks, reference volumes

International Social Science Journal, 1998

2011

Although governance is widely used in policy debates, it has remained a fuzzy concept, referring sometimes to theoretical approaches and sometimes to ideological stances. From the point of view of many developing countries it connotes a set of ‘recipes’ and constraints imposed by Western institutions. This article explores how, based on existing approaches, the concept of governance could be developed into an analytical tool for the social and development sciences that does not fall prey to ideological connotations.For this purpose, the article presents what I consider to be the four most popular approaches to the concept of governance: corporate governance, global governance, good governance, and modern governance.These approaches are compared and analysed in terms of both their gaps and their potential contributions to the analytical tool envisioned. The criteria developed for this tool are that it should be suitable for analysing social dynamics at various levels, in different so...

Governance stands as a fundamental activity integral to the control and management of affairs within the state apparatus. Rooted in the principles of authority, accountability, and decision-making, governance encompasses a spectrum of processes aimed at steering the course of societal development and ensuring the welfare of its citizens. This conceptual framework extends beyond mere bureaucratic functions to encapsulate a dynamic interplay of actors, institutions, and mechanisms that shape the socio-political landscape. Drawing upon theories from political science, public administration, and management studies, this paper seeks to elucidate the multifaceted nature of governance as a complex system of rules, norms, and practices. By examining its various dimensions, including policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation, the paper aims to unravel the intricacies of governance processes and their implications for statecraft and public policy. Moreover, it delves into contemporary challenges and opportunities confronting governance in an era marked by globalization, technological advancements, and evolving societal expectations. Ultimately, this paper endeavors to foster a deeper understanding of governance as a critical endeavor central to the functioning of modern states and the realization of democratic ideals.

Policy Studies Journal, 2011

The popularity of governance can be seen across academic genres. In some ways, the tremendous amount of theorizing on the subject has created contentious areas of debate. However, the approach that I argue will move the discussion forward is a focus on areas of agreement, where studying governance as a form of statecraft is considered. In order to advance the governance conversation, this essay speculates on the intersections of future governance research areas and maintains that making governance studies meaningful involves more empirical testing and inductive explorations by scholars.

This paper is devoted to trace the emergence of governance. Then, paper will reflect on the meaning of governance in the context of global, national and local governance. The discussion will be centered on power and relation that governance arises from lack of capacity to one acting alone to effect desired changes at global, national and local level. Finally, the paper concludes with a brief justification on power and power relation in different context.

Routledge eBooks, 2010