Good Governance: Populist Democracy to Quality Democracy

Abstract

The author of the article analyses several factors that are attributed to good governance. He maintains that a particular approach or a school of thought cannot ensure good governance, but it depends on the combined effects of several attributes. A holistic approach towards administration, a highly moral and ethical executive, transparency and accountability on the part of administrators and a deep sense of involvement and commitment to social values on the part of citizens are the bare minimum •conditions for good governance."ONGOING GLOBAL transformations need guidance, to avoid very negative looming consequences and realise very positive potentials. Markets, civil society, etc., however important, cannot be relied upon to provide the needed guidance; normatively and realistically only governance can do so. However, in order to adequately fulfil crucial future-building tasks, politics must be revitalised, democracy must be refocused, and governance must be radically redesigned" . 1 Good governance is a buzz word now-a-days. Its arena is extended from the government to corporate sector. Governance has been the focal point for appreciation or condemnation from the day state was formed. The present governments have been providing a number of services to improve quality of life of people through education, health, purchasing power, etc. It is recognised that there is more to living standards than is typically captured in GDP accounting. Improvements in education or health are not just means to an end of increased output, but are ends in themselves; similarly there is more to well-being of people than to ensure law and order by the government. Equity, security and healthy environment are not just means, to an end of increased welfare but are end in themselves. The concept of goo4 governance encompasses this. MEANING OF GOOD GOVERNANCEThe concept of "Good Governance" have been used differently by different people without reaching to any consensus since both 'good' and 'governance'1 Yehezkel Dror, The Capacity to Govern, p. 3.

Governance and Leadership for Achieving Higher Quality in School Education: A Study of Sikkim

“…What is not bad governance is good governance. Bad governance is reflected in many forms: sacrificed political accountability, lost freedom, missing law-abiding behaviour, eroded bureaucratic accountability, missing transparency, rare availability of information, never-bothered effectiveness, efficiency found only in dictionary and cooperation between the government and society remains ideal (Tiwari, 2002). Thus, good governance, treated as an instrumental value, is a means to achieve the desired ends (Punyarathabandhu, 2004).…”