Good Governance: desirable governance goal

- but unachievable agenda for poor countries

The 'Good Governance' agenda identifies a host of desirable governance goals for developing countries, but its implementation and results have been very poor. An important reason is that the framework confuses means and ends, and ignores very significant historical facts about growth in the last century. Its position as the dominant consensus sets poor countries infeasible and unachievable agendas, creating dismay and disillusion, and takes our attention away from achievable and critical governance agendas.

At a seminar at DIIS on 24 June, " The Illusory Lure of 'Good Governance' and the Hard Realities of Growth in Poor Countries", Professor Mushtaq Khan’s examined the theoretical and empirical limits of the consensus agenda and identified the types of governance reforms that are supported by historically informed theory.

The Illusory Lure of 'Good Governance'

The Illusory Lure of “Good Governance” and the hard realities of growth in poor countries View more presentations from DIIS - Danish Institute for International Studies.

Mushtaq Khan is Professor of economics at The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), at the University of London. His research interests include institutional economics, South Asian economic development, the role of the state and of state failure. He is a member of two task forces, on industrial policy and on Africa, set up by Joseph Stiglitz as part of the Initiative for Policy Dialogue. He is also a member of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration.

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