Is World Bank “Good Governance” Good for the Poor? Central American Experiences

Abstract

This paper explores the World Bank's concept of "good governance" as applied in rural Central America. It argues that World Bank good governance seeks to constrain unequal accumulation and privilege in the public sector, but leaves largely unaddressed structural inequalities in the private sector and the conflation of economic and political power in the public sector. This paper suggests that the World Bank analysis does not adequately consider more embedded state/civil society relations linked to national and sub-national political cultures. In contexts in which nation-building projects have promoted forms citizenship linked to more activist "leveling" and paternalistic states, good governance is likely to be ideologically contested. World Bank good governance under these circumstances is unlikely to quell discontent or naturalize the neoliberal state.

Governance, Sustainability and Decision Making in Water and Sanitation Management Systems

“…"Good" governance, as understood by the World Bank, generally implies, among other things, that states are supposed to minimize their size and promote economic and financial stability, assuming that this is a way to deal with social inequalities and poverty [13]. This concept of good governance loaded with neoliberal connotations did not work as expected in many developing countries, leading instead to more concentration of power in a few economic and political actors, and to a drastic reduction in the control capacity of state agencies [14]. Contemporary ideas of governance draw attention to the values, norms, and principles that underpin decision making and, by doing so, they highlight the central role of individuals and their personal attitudes and behaviors at the origin of governance processes [15,16].…”

Governance, Sustainability and Decision Making in Water and Sanitation Management Systems

“…"Good" governance, as understood by the World Bank, generally implies, among other things, that states are supposed to minimize their size and promote economic and financial stability, assuming that this is a way to deal with social inequalities and poverty [13]. This concept of good governance loaded with neoliberal connotations did not work as expected in many developing countries, leading instead to more concentration of power in a few economic and political actors, and to a drastic reduction in the control capacity of state agencies [14]. Contemporary ideas of governance draw attention to the values, norms, and principles that underpin decision making and, by doing so, they highlight the central role of individuals and their personal attitudes and behaviors at the origin of governance processes [15,16].…”