Multipart thematic paper on multi-stakeholder ... - ISIS Europe

component of effective economic modernization.” Such a focus on good governance came out of a
realisation that economic action requires an effective political process – i.e. that development is unlikely to
happen without stable regimes, effective administration, the rule of law and a strong civil society. In this
context, democracy is desirable “if [and when] it provides legitimation for good governance.” (ibid.)
Similarly, in post-conflict situations, reconstruction can nowadays hardly be imagined without
democracy and good governance, and the rule of law. 1 In post-conflict settings, like in developmental
situations, democracy and good governance are seen as providing a necessary regulation and restraint of
interests, particularly of the often conflictual interests of parties to the conflict, especially the dominant
community and one or more non-dominant minorities.
Because bad governance “is being increasingly regarded as one of the root causes of all evil within
our societies”, international (financial) institutions condition their aid and loans on a successful completion
of reforms that ensure good governance, and also democracy (ESCAP 2010), or, in the context of the
European Union and its Governance Initiative, on achieving the broad list of elements of ‘democratic
governance’. 2 Democratic governance (whereby, somewhat confusingly, the Commission uses both
‘democratic governance’ and ‘good governance’ interchangeably) includes issues, such as “respect and
promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, democratisation and citizens’ involvement in the
political process, the rule of law and access to justice, gender equality, Human Security, access to
information, management of migration flows, access to basic public services, effective, transparent,
responsive and accountable State institutions, sustainable management of resources and promotion of
sustainable economic growth and social cohesion.” 3 Furthermore, all these issues are interlinked, and
relevant at all levels of governance, from local to national and international. 4
As will be discussed in greater details below, different institutions apply different approaches
towards achieving democracy, good governance and rule of law in different countries – these include less
developed countries, less democratic, and those that had emerged out of violent conflicts. Instruments used
by institutions to stimulate reforms in such countries differ, but, importantly, institutions also differ in terms
of their understandings of the very concepts they seek to promote. The concept of good governance is
particularly ‘problematic’ in this respect.
Among many other institutions that have sought to both promote and first define good governance,
the United National Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific has usefully defined good
governance in terms of eight characteristics, as seen in the picture below. Thus, good governance is
“participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and
inclusive and follows the rule of law” (ESCAP, 2010). In other words, it “assures that corruption is
1 A detailed analysis of the three concepts follows below.
2 Commission of the European Communities. 2009. Supporting Democratic Governance through the Governance Initiative: a
Review and the Way Forward. Commission Staff Working Paper. Brussels, 19.1.2009, SEC(2009) 58 final.
3 Ibid., pp. 3–4.
4 Ibid. p. 4.
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