Governance

Governance refers to the capacity of governing systems to co-ordinate policy and to solve public problems in a complex context (Pierre, 2000). Governance is "the sum of the many ways individuals and institutions, public and private, manage their common affairs. It is a continuing process through which conflicting or diverse interests may be accommodated and co-operative action may be taken" (Commission on Global Governance, 1995). The Governance concept implies the management of a country’s resources for development at all levels using mechanisms, processes and institutions for encouraging citizens and groups to articulate their interests, mediate their differences and exercise their legal rights and obligations (UNDP, 1997). Governance involves coordination and coherence among various actors with different objectives such as political actors and institutions, interest groups, civil society, non-governmental and transnational organizations (Pierre, 2000).

Related terms: Good Governance, Democratic Governance, IT Governance, Public Governance

References:

Commission on Global Governance (1995), Our Global Neighbourhood, New York: Oxford University Press,  p. 2

Pierre, J. (2000), Debating governance authority, steering, and democracy, Oxford University Press, USA.

UNDP. (1997), Governance for sustainable human development: A UNDP policy document, Available here


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