(Sample Material) Gist of Important Articles from IIPA Journal
Topic: Critique of ‘Governance’ from the Grassroots Perspective P. Raghu Ram
Good governance; as a condition of development is recognised as a universally valid project like Modernisation was in the development theory of the 1960s. This follows from the conviction that failures in development efforts have largely been the result of poor governance i.e. political factors that are uncontrollable and which induce inefficiency. In one stroke, it was argued that the nation-states have undergone the processes of both Universatisation and indigenisation in the non-European societies. Cultural specificities in different regions demand different ways of conceptualising development can be seen from the resistance of tribals to Narmada valley projects, where alternative development strategies are being conceptualized. N.G. Jayal argues that the recent discourse of development aid-with the project of governance at its core-constitutes an attempt to elaborate the versions of Orientalism, in the sense that the redress takes the form of charity. It is not rooted in the rights-claims of the citizens, but rather in the neo-colonial sense of philanthropy. The governance agenda in a way mirrors the popular western images of the third world as a way of doing good to these societies.
The project of governance endorses the role of governments in creating and enforcing the rules to enable the markets to work efficiently and government is required to create ‘conducive investment climate’ through corrective measures such as creation of essential infrastructure, provision of education and health which are crucial for the quality of private investments. In order to provide these goods, the State needs to raise revenues and deliver services and it is these factors that necessitate transparency, clarity about rules and the adequate information.