Governance in a Changing

World: Challenges and

Prospects
Governance refers to the
nature of rules that regulate the
public realm– the space where
state and economic and societal
actors interact to make decisions.
“Governance is a neutral
concept comprising the
mechanisms, processes,
relationships and institutions
through which citizens and
groups articulate their interests,
exercise their rights and
obligations and mediate their
differences.” (UNDP)
Governance as “steering”……
 Foundation Indicators
Arena Indicator
Civil Society Freedom of expression
Freedom of assembly
Political Society Free and fair elections
Government Civil-military relations
Commitment
Bureaucracy Transparency
Accountability
Economic Society Limited corruption
Judiciary Impartial judgment
 Characteristics of Good Governance
(UNDP)
 THE CHALLENGES IN ASIA
PACIFIC REGION

Democratic Gains

Since the 1980s, the world has seen a

significant trend toward democratization
—the adoption of democratic principles
of governance and public participation.
 NGOs Awakening

Since 1985, the number of

nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) such as
environmental groups has more
than doubled, with more than 40,000
now officially recorded.
 Inexorable Globalization
Economic globalization—the
growing interdependence of national
economies—has been marked by a sharp
increase in trade and international
investment.

More than 60,000 multinational

corporations now operate in a
global marketplace

Most recently the financial crisis is a severe

test to governance…. What do you think?
 Increasing Privatization

Since the mid-1980s, governments

have increasingly transferred to the
private sector some of their
powers to manage natural
resources and provide services like
drinking water supply, wastewater
treatment, and electric power.
 Lingering Corruption

Corruption is, by definition, among

the most corrosive forces against
fair and participatory decision-
making and one of the clearest
signs of governance dysfunction.
 Continuing Armed Conflict
Armed conflict and its accompanying
political and social turmoil often
short-circuit any systematic process
of governance
 Emerging Information Technology

The international diffusion of information

technologies—Internet access, mobile
phones, pagers, faxes, e-mail, mapping
software, satellite
imagery—has changed the balance of
power among governments,
corporations, and nongovernmental
organizations.
Bureaucratic Performance
Most governmental
organizations are struggling
with respect to competence,
resources, responsiveness and
fragmentation of efforts
 Climate Change

Effects of climate change on society

and environment has far-reaching
implications to governance. How
governance actors respond to these
unpredictable changes offers is an
interesting area of concern.
 Environment and Natural Resources
Degradation

The quality of environment and the state

of natural resources pose a limit to
development and human security.
Governance is a key to environment and
natural resources sustainability.
 Population Growth and
Mobility
Population is growing in some
countries in Asia Pacific. A lot of people
are also on the move – as tourist,
workers, traders. They create
tremendous pressure on both the
sending and receiving countries,
therefore making governance reform
imperative.
Governance is ultimately about:

Cooperation of Actors at all levels of

governance
Creation and enhancing Mechanisms for
collective decision-making
Promoting Processes for a “win-win”
solutions to issues
Greater and better policy and administrative
Integration
Commitment to agreed development goals
Sustaining gains and overcoming conflicts
 FORCES AND INFLUENCES IN SD

GLOBALIZATION
_____________________________________________________
GOVERNANCE
• Knowledge -Leadership
• Ethics -Commitment
SD

INDUSTRIALIZATION URBANIZATION HUMAN

•Technology SECURITY
•Corporate Social • Population Poverty
Responsibility • Consumption ???
•Energy • Modernization
CARRYING CAPACITY
• Resource Depletion
• Wastes
_____________________________________________________

CLIMATE CHANGE
 TECHNOLOGY

LL
POPULATION RESOURCES
L

INSTITUTIONS

GOVERNANCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

 International
Governance
S&T
Knowledge

ETHICS

Cooperation

ACTION POINTS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

“Good governance is a
process, characterized by
communication and
consultation, through which
disputes are resolved,
consensus is built and
performance is reviewed, on
the
continuous basis” Nayyar, D
Governance is about
…..
Partnerships,
Cooperation
Balance
Voice
Power
Leadership as
the key to
enhancing
good
Any comments??