The intelligent person's guide to good governance PDF
Preview The intelligent person's guide to good governance
The Intelligent Person’s Guide to Good Governance The Intelligent Person’s Guide to Good Governance ii The Intelligent Person’s Guide to Good Governance SURENDRA MUNSHI BIJU PAUL ABRAHAM SOMA CHAUDHURI Copyright © Surendra Munshi, Biju Paul Abraham and Soma Chaudhuri, 2009 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilised in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. First published in 2009 by SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd B1/I-1 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 044, India www.sagepub.in SAGE Publications Inc 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks California 91320, USA SAGE Publications Ltd 1 Oliver’s Yard 55 City Road London EC1Y 1SP, United Kingdom SAGE Publications Asia-Pacifi c Pte Ltd 33 Pekin Street #02-01 Far East Square Singapore 048763 Published by Vivek Mehra for SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd, typeset in 11/13 Berkley by Star Compugraphics Private Limited, Delhi and printed at Chaman Enterprises, New Delhi. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Available ISBN: 978-81-7829-931-0 (Pb) The SAGE Team: Reema Singhal, P.K. Jayanthan, Rajib Chatterjee and Trinankur Banerjee Contents Preface vii Chapter 1: The Concept of Good Governance 1 Organisational Views Critical Perspectives Analytical Issues Chapter 2: The Role of the State 26 In Western Political Thought Historical Characteristics of the State Recent Challenges The Indian State since Independence The Future of the State Chapter 3: The Third Way 51 The Third Way in the First World Criticism of the Third Way Relevance of the Third Way to India Chapter 4: The Idea of Civil Society 80 Civil Society in Different Societal Contexts The Nature of Civil Society Is Civil Society Relevant? The Intelligent Person’s Guide to Good Governance Chapter 5: Beyond National Boundaries 104 The Global Setting Global Institutions Reforming Global Governance Chapter 6: The Issue of Democracy 132 What is Wrong with Democracy? Are There Alternatives? The Way to Democracy The Democratic Option Appendix: Is India Ungovernable? 156 Bibliography 169 Index 189 About the Authors 194 vi Preface The term good governance has been in discussion for quite some time now. It could well be expected that the vast literature that exists on the subject would have proved helpful in sorting out key issues by now. This has sadly not happened. Indeed, there seems to be an inverse re- lationship between the volume of literature on the subject and the clarity that has been achieved on it. The term has nevertheless found a wide acceptance even outside the circles of experts and institutions which are professionally concerned with developmental issues. In India, for example, it is not all that uncommon to hear these days that a particular election was fought on the issue of good governance. Politicians, journalists and common citi- zens do not feel uncomfortable in using the term. No- body denies that good governance is needed, though it is a different matter whether this need is met beyond rhet- orical assertions. Yet another problem that any person who engages with the subject faces is the problem of fi nding a text that considers different relevant issues at one place. The issue of good governance is clearly connected with other issues that are important in our public life, such as, the role of the state or the idea of civil society. The Intelligent Person’s Guide to Good Governance Though much valuable literature exists on these issues, it is not often that they are discussed in a connected manner. For any person who is interested in the subject this involves preparing a list of relevant writings, collecting and then reading them systematically. Can you suggest just one book that I can read on good governance to form a basic idea on the subject? This book is written with this question in mind. It is written for all those who may be interested in exploring the subject for academic or practical purposes. Surprisingly, in the vast literature that exists on good governance, it is hard to fi nd such books. It is left to the readers of this book to decide whether it achieves the clarity that is required. One thing may be claimed though with some confi dence. In putting a book on good governance in the hands of the readers interested in forming a basic idea of the subject, this book may make the task of such readers easier. It puts the wisdom of several studies at their disposal. It puts also the outcome of our own thinking in writing of the book at their disposal. The bibliography given at the end of the book may be useful for the readers in pursuing their interests further. In writing this book on good governance, relevant ex- periences and authors have been drawn from different parts of the world. This will become clear by a quick look at the table of contents and the bibliography that ac- companies this book. If the United States and Britain feature in the discussion on the Third Way, Poland fi nds a place of pride in the discussion on civil society. It was interesting to watch Bill Clinton and Tony Blair shape their Third Way, just as it was exciting to watch Lech Walesa carry out his struggle in the Gdansk shipyards. viii Preface It is also to be admitted that, within the context of this broad coverage, India has been given a special treatment not only in discussing whether India is ungovernable but also in different chapters. This is done intentionally, for the Indian experience may be interesting not only to Indian readers but also to others who may fi nd, in this ex- perience, something useful. The largest democracy in the world does throw up large questions that have a broader relevance. What are the conclusions that can be drawn on the basis of this study? As an answer to this question, among several that are possible, I wish to emphasise that we seem to be moving towards a paradoxical situation. As good governance becomes more and more important with societies all over adjusting to the reality of the emer- ging world, the good governance discourse seems to be exhausting itself. While good governance is needed in poor societies devastated by wars or internal dissensions, it is also needed in the affl uent societies of the West where, as has been observed by Yves Meny (1997), the insulation of the people from politics has perhaps gone too far except in the ritualistic sense of periodic elections. It is, therefore, important to rebuild a democratic polity that is adapted to the present time. Rulers, democratically elected or autocratically self-appointed, are seen as not caring for the real problems of the people, and dissatisfaction with them appears to be widespread all over the world. This appears to be happening ironically at a time when more people are living under democratic arrangements than ever before in the world. This is our opportunity. Concern with good governance opens the possibility of rethinking the issues of governance that are relevant ix
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