The concept of good governance has been a long time discussed the concept of development cooperation. Almost every institution on the world level, like the World Bank or European Union, got its own definition, in which way this concept had to be converted into real politics.
It is widely believed that only with the implementation of good governance least developed stats are able to overcome poverty. And even the most paying states believed that LDC´s have to convert these concepts into real policy to overcoming poverty. But nobody, not the World Bank or the western governments could really give an answer, if this concept is really helpful in all its instances? In this work, I will try to collect some of the definitions of good governance. Because there are very different attributes, I like to compare them which each other, as good as it gets.
The concept of good governance is used in some many different ways that almost every political cooperation between the state, the society and the economy is somewhere touched be this concept.
And because of this, it is really difficult to find one satisfactory solution, which maybe defines the concept of good governance sufficient. My main question is: “What are the main characteristics of this concept and why does it find its place in almost every development cooperation between the western societies and the LDCs? “
Table of Contents
1) Introduction
2) The concept of governance
2.1) Governance in general
2.2) The governance concept in origin
3) Good governance
3.1) The governance concept of the World Bank
3.2) Systemic, political and administrative democratic good governance
3.3) From the Washington Consensus to Post Washington Consensus
3.4) Good governance principles of important international organizations
4) The concept of the European Union
4.1) Developing a concept
4.2) First time mention of good governance and its interpretation
4.3) Concretisation through the treaties of Lomé and Cotonou
4.4) The first step to another concept
4.5) A try to measure good governance
4.6) The concretization of democratic governance
5) Summary and Critique
Research Objectives and Themes
The paper examines the implementation and evolution of the "good governance" concept within European Union development policy, specifically analyzing its effectiveness and limitations when applied to Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The primary research question addresses the characteristics of this concept and why it remains a central component in development cooperation between Western societies and LDCs despite various implementation challenges.
- Evolution of governance definitions across international institutions.
- Comparative analysis of World Bank and European Union governance frameworks.
- Critical assessment of "democratic governance" and its practical application.
- Impact of emerging global powers (e.g., China) on Western governance conditionality.
- The tension between normative development goals and local political realities.
Excerpt from the Book
4.3) Concretisation through the treaties of Lomé and Cotonou
In 1995 the fourth Lomé-Convention was signed, the EU clarifies their concept of good governance. This was also necessary because the ACP countries could not deal with this vague concept of the EU.
In Article 5 of the Fourth Lomé- Convention, the concept of good governance has been summarized much narrower: “Development policy and cooperation shall be closely linked to respect for and enjoyment of fundamental human rights and the recognition and application of democratic principles, the consolidation of the rule of law and good governance. The role and potential of initiatives taken by individuals and groups shall be recognized in order to achieve in practice real participation of the population in the development process in accordance with Article 13. In this context good governance shall be a particular aim of cooperation operations” (Article 5 of the revised Lomé IV Convention).
The crux of this description was the substantive separation of the good governance concept. The EU wanted to concentrate more on governance projects and not on sanctions if countries violate the good governance concept. Primarily the EU promoted administrative reforms, decentralization and anti-corruption. The prerequisite of democratic structures and respect for and observance of human rights was not required vehemently by the EU. For the ACP countries, this made it even easier to accept the terms of the contract. The criticism of the behavior of the EU was piling up soon after completion of the fourth Lomé treaty. As a result the European commission presented in 1998 a more precise definition.
Summary of Chapters
1) Introduction: Defines the scope of the paper, focusing on the prevalence of the good governance concept in development cooperation and identifying the central research questions regarding its characteristics and utility.
2) The concept of governance: Explores the general definition of governance as a management process and traces the historical origins of the concept in international development discourse.
3) Good governance: Analyzes the frameworks established by the World Bank, the transition from the Washington Consensus to the Post Washington Consensus, and the principles adopted by various international organizations.
4) The concept of the European Union: Details the chronological development of the EU's interpretation of good governance, from early aid programs to the Cotonou Agreement and the shift toward democratic governance.
5) Summary and Critique: Synthesizes the findings, critically evaluating the effectiveness of the EU's approach and discussing the challenges posed by new global players and the changing landscape of development aid.
Keywords
Good Governance, European Union, LDCs, Development Policy, World Bank, Democratization, Human Rights, ACP-States, Cotonou Agreement, Political Reform, Anti-Corruption, Institutional Framework, Development Cooperation, Structural Adjustment, Foreign Aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the concept of "good governance" as applied by the European Union in its development cooperation with Least Developed Countries (LDCs), investigating how this concept has evolved and whether it has achieved its intended outcomes.
What are the central thematic fields covered in the study?
Key themes include the evolution of international governance definitions, the specific political-normative approach of the European Union, the critique of development aid conditionality, and the impact of non-Western development partners on these policies.
What is the core research question?
The research asks what the main characteristics of the good governance concept are and why it has become a staple of development cooperation between Western societies and LDCs, despite criticism regarding its practical effectiveness.
Which methodology is employed in the work?
The author uses a qualitative, analytical approach, comparing various institutional definitions of governance, reviewing treaty documentation (Lomé and Cotonou), and evaluating existing secondary literature to assess the EU's development strategy.
What topics are addressed in the main body?
The main body examines the origins of governance, the World Bank’s influence, the sequential evolution of EU governance policies, and a critical analysis of the challenges in implementing these standards in partner countries.
Which keywords best describe the paper?
Keywords include Good Governance, European Union, LDCs, Development Policy, World Bank, Democratization, Human Rights, and Development Cooperation.
How did the concept of governance change within the EU over time?
The concept evolved from a focus on infrastructure and market-oriented reform to a more normative focus on human rights, the rule of law, and democratic governance, eventually moving toward a "two-way dialogue" approach in later years.
What role do emerging powers like China play in the author's critique?
The author argues that China's non-interference policy provides an alternative for LDCs, which undermines the pressure Western nations can exert via governance-linked conditionalities and necessitates a re-evaluation of Western development strategies.
Why does the author consider the EU's measurement of governance problematic?
The author highlights that the EU’s attempts to measure governance—such as the 2003 Handbook—were overly complex, impractical, and produced data that lacked true significance due to the broad nature of the indicators.
- Quote paper
- Florian Henning (Author), 2013, Is Good Governance Good for LDCs? The European Union and its Good Governance Concept, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/301950
