1. Politics as Governance

2. Activity No. 1.3 Activity Title: Politics as Governance Objectives: Differentiate governance from government Essential Question: What does it mean to say that politics is “about governing”? Values: Reflective and Critical Thinkers Reference: Politics Without Border Diana J. Mendoza, PhD et al Page: 10 – 11

3. Understanding politics as about governing requires us to differentiate between the concepts of “governing”, “government” and “governance”.

4. I. Complete the chart below.
GOVERNING
GOVERNMENT
GOVERNANCE
Meaning
Example

5. discussion

6. GOVERNING
It includes institutions other than those of the government that are involved in governing.
involved in one way or another in setting rules or conventions which govern some aspects of behaviour of their members. (Leftwich 2011,10)
Examples: Labor and Trade unions, corporations, universities, church organizations, social movement etc.

7. GOVERNMENT
It is the term generally used to describe the formal institutions through which a group of people is ruled or governed. The term extends to include the persons and organizations that make, enforce, and apply political decisions for a society. (Mendoza,1999a)
Examples: Democratic, Communist, Monarchial, Authoritarian, Totalitarian etc.

8. GOVERNANCE
Refers to the formal and informal institutions, rules, norms and expectations which govern behavior in societies and without which the very idea of a human society is impossible.
Examples: the public sector (state actors and institutions), the private sector (households and companies), and the civil society (non-governmental organizations)

9. WHAT IS GOVERNANCE?
Meaning of Governance
The word “governance” came from the Latin verb “gubernare,” or more originally from the Greek word “kubernaein,” which means “to steer.” Basing on its etymology, governance refers to the manner of steering or governing, or of directing and controlling, a group of people or a state.

10. Definition of Governance
Governance is commonly defined as the exercise of power or authority by political leaders for the well-being of their country’s citizens or subjects.

11. It is the complex process whereby some sectors of the society wield power, and enact and promulgate public policies which directly affect human and institutional interactions, and economic and social development.
The power exercised by the participating sectors of the society is always for the common good, as it is essential for demanding respect and cooperation from the citizens and the state.

12. Governance is based on the realization that the government cannot do everything for the people, so that in order to survive the state should not only rely on government but also on the other sectors of the society.

13. Governance entails two processes:
- decision-making and
- implementation of the decision.
*Decision-making refers the process by which a person or group of persons, guided by socio-political structures, arrive at a decision involving their individual and communal needs and wants. 
*Implementation is the process that logically follows the decision; it entails the actualization or materialization of the plan or decision.

14. INDICATORS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE Good governance is understood through its eight indicators or characteristics: (1) Participatory; (2) Rule of Law; (3) Effective and Efficient; (4) Transparent; (5) Responsive; (6) Equitable and Inclusive; (7) Consensus Oriented; and (8) Accountability.

15. 1. Participatory
Good governance essentially requires participation of different sectors of the society. Participation means active involvement of all affected and interested parties in the decision-making process.

16. 2. Rule of the Law
It demands that the people and the civil society render habitual obedience to the law. It also demands that the government acts within the limits of the powers and functions prescribed by the law. In more concrete terms, rule of law means “peace and order,” “absence of corruption,” “impartial and effective justice system,” “observance and protection of human rights,” and “clear, publicized, and stable laws.”

17. 3. Effectiveness and Efficiency
It demands “enhancement and standardization of the quality of public service delivery consistent with international standards,” “professionalization of bureaucracy,” “focusing of government efforts on its vital functions, and elimination of redundancies or overlaps in functions and operations,” “a citizen-centered government,” and “an improved financial management system of the government.”

18. 4. Transparency
It is an indicator of good governance, means that people are open to information regarding decision-making process and the implementation of the same. It means that information on matters of public concern are made available to the citizens or those who will be directly affected.
When there is transparency, people are placed in a better position to know and protect their rights as well as denounce corrupt or fraudulent practices in the public sector and in the private sector.

19. 5. Responsiveness   
It means that institutions and processes serve all stakeholders in a timely and appropriate manner. It also means that actors and structures of governance easily give genuine expression to the will or desire of the people. In other words, the interests of all citizens must be well protected in a prompt and appropriate manner so that each of them can appreciate and take part in the process of governance. While responsiveness is also a characteristic sought from the private sector and civil society, more is demanded from the government or the public sector.

20. 6. Equity and Inclusiveness
Equity and inclusiveness means that all the members of the society, especially the most vulnerable ones or the grassroots level, must be taken into consideration in policy-making. Everyone has a stake in the society and no one should feel alienated from it. Particularly, those who belong to the grassroots level must not only be the subject of legislation but they must be given the opportunity to participate in decision or policy making.

21. Social equity refers to a kind of justice that gives more opportunity to the less fortunate members of the society. It is based on the principle that those who have less in life should have more in law. Good governance demands that the actors must give preferential attention to the plight of the poor.

22. 7. Consensus Oriented
Governance is consensus oriented when decisions are made after taking into consideration the different viewpoints of the actors of the society. To meet the consensus, a strong, impartial, and flexible mediation structure must be established. Without such, compromises and a broad consensus cannot be reached that serves that best interest of the whole community.

23. 8. Accountability
Accountability means answerability or responsibility for one’s action. It is based on the principle that every person or group is responsible for their actions most especially when their acts affect public interest. The actors have an obligation to explain and be answerable for the consequences of decisions and actions they have made on behalf of the community it serves.