Globalization, Good Governance and Democracy

Globalization is defined as the free movements of goods, services and capital across borders. Globalization causes rapid changes in trade relations, financial flows, and mobility of labor across the world. As a market phenomenon globalization is driven by the lower cost of moving goods, services, money, people and information that is triggered by technical progress. The reduction in economic distance makes possible to take advantage of the opportunities for arbitrage that exist in markets for goods, services and factors of production, reducing (but not eliminating) the importance of geography and the effectiveness of policy and institutional barriers. As a market phenomenon, globalization has also increased the ability of firms to fragment the production process across geographical locations, contributing to a steady growth of international trade (particularly in manufactures) and investment.

In this globalised world, rapid development and global proliferation of new technologies and telecommunications, and integration of the world economy through trade and investment, have increased the role and power of regional and global institutions. This promoted and strengthened the spread of democracy while also providing the leverage for good governance.

Consequently, countries of the world have come to the realization of the need to embrace democracy as a universal form of government albeit in different variants. Democracy has become the basis for friendly relations among nations and also a defining factor in global identity. This is why the rate and wave of democratization (genuine or rhetorical among nations) have become massive. Any country that does not embrace democracy is not likely to receive continental respect and global attention or supports. The linkage between globalization and democracy is further strengthened by the interdependence and interconnectedness that define the relationship of nations in a global scene. Globalization is capable of engendering good governance as ideas; technologies and trade are exchanged freely in a global continuum.

Globalization, Good Governance and Democracy: A Conceptual Analysis

The triple concepts- globalisation, good governance and democracy- have dominated international discourse for some time now.

Globalization

Globalization is defined as the integration on a global scale of flows of goods and finances, cultural contacts and information. The concept of globalization can explain the following points.

1. Stretching of social, political and economic activities across frontiers, regions and continents;
2. It is marked by the intensification or the growing magnitude of interconnectedness and flows of trade, investment, finance, migration, culture, etc.;
3. It can be linked to a speeding up of global interactions and processes, as the development of world-wide systems of transport and communication increases the velocity of the diffusion of ideas, goods, information, capital and people;
4. The growing extensity, intensity and velocity of global interaction can be associated with their deepening impact such that the effects of distant events can be highly significant elsewhere and specific local developments can come to have considerable global consequences.

Good Governance

Before defining good governance, it is pertinent to define governance in order to use it as a point of departure to fully understand good governance. Governance is decision making process through consultation dialogue and mutual respect. According to Keohane and Nye (1989) governance refers to, “the emergence and recognition of principles, norms, rules, and procedures that both provide standards of acceptable public behaviour, and that are followed sufficiently to produce behavioural regularities”. Governance can also be seen as both processes and arrangements that ensure orderliness, acceptable standard of allocation of resources (both human and material) and a legal framework within which national behaviours are shaped and controlled. Good governance on its own refers to “broad reform strategy and a particular set of initiatives to strengthen the institutions of civil society with the objective of making government more accountable, more open and transparent and more democratic” (Minogue, 1997).

The basic for good governance is a well function democratic political system. Good governance has been closely linked to “the extent which a government is perceived and accepted as legitimate, committed to improving the public welfare and responsive to the needs of its citizens, competent to assure law and order and deliver public services, able to create an enabling policy environment for productive activities; and equitable in its conduct” (Sharma, 2007). In the view of World Bank good governance as, “the means by which power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for development” and good governance as synonymous with broad sphere of public sector management; accountability; legal framework for development; information and technology; the legitimacy of government; the competence of governments to formulate appropriate policies, make timely decisions; implement them effectively and deliver services.”

Therefore good governance consist the elements: transparency, participation(participatory development processes), efficiency, strong state, democracy, social equity respect of human rights and the rule of law.

Democracy

Generically, democracy involves the opportunity to participate in decision making in the political process. The concept of democracy confers the opportunity to participate in decision making by all adult citizens. The citizenry enjoys wide spread participation in the political process. Though all these are not exhaustive of the elements of democracy.

According to Harvey and Harvey (1974) democracy refers to, “involves settling affairs according to known rules of government, tolerance towards minority views, regular elections and freedom of speech; and above all, observance of rule of law.”

In a same way, Larry Diamond (1989) sees democracy as: a system of government that meets three essential conditions: meaningful and extensive competition among individuals and groups, especially political parties, for all effective positions of government power, at regular intervals and excluding the use of force; a highly inclusive level of political participation in the selection of leaders and policies, at least through regular and fair election, such that no major (adult) social group is excluded; and a level of civil and political liberties, freedom to form and join organizations sufficient to ensure the integrity of political competition and participation.

Therefore democracy includes the domain of individual and group rights and freedoms; the domain of popular and equal participation in collective decision; the domain of accountability of government to mass publics and constituent minorities; and the domain of the application of the principles of equal citizenship in all spheres of life- social, economic and political. The democracy claim to democratic regime or state must essentially embrace a high degree of popular participation, competitive choice, and openness, the enjoyment of civil and political liberties by the citizenry in concrete terms and accountability of the leadership. The opportunity to participate in democratization process accords the citizenry the choice and selection of credible representatives through periodic elections.

Globalization and Good Governance

Governance, especially good governance, is now synonymous with development and has worn a global outlook. Governance has been internationalized, and transcends local domain. The issue of social service delivery is not the exclusive duty of national government as IGOs have been fully involved in the actualization of the demand for improved service delivery capacity. National governments are becoming more responsive and responsible to the citizens as the latter are well equipped and empowered to challenge the inefficiency of any national government, this again promotes good governance in no small measure as there are various coordination and measurement mechanisms through which performances of national governments are examined and rated.

National problems have now become international both in approach and outlook. Problems such as: flooding, earthquake, erosion, epidemics like: HIV/AIDS scourge, malaria fever, tuberculosis, leprosy, guinea worm, polio, drugs menace, food crisis, debt crisis, refugee and civil conflicts are now being tackled globally rather than nationally. In fact, such problems surpass national capacity and domestic solution. This global approach to governance is capable of catapulting good governance.

As countries open up their economies through the removal of trade restrictions, the level of output would increase. The effects of the ensuing specialization and competition would be higher productivity and increased living standard of national population. Globalizations emphasize a greater international division of labour and a more efficient allocation of savings, so globalisation would not only raise productivity but also improve living standards and bring about good governance.

Globalisation is also placing governments under increasing scrutiny, something that may prompt improved state conduct and more responsible economic policies. There is also a growing relationship between the quality of governance in developing countries and the trade and aid provided to those countries. In a way, therefore, globalisation opens up wide opportunities capable of propelling good governance.

Good Governance and Democracy

Liberal democracy entails not only free and fair elections in terms of the administration of the voting and vote counting. A liberal or high-quality democracy requires a more comprehensive fairness of political competition. In a high quality democracy, the electoral arena is open, and the playing field is reasonably level. Also, liberal democracy requires extensive public freedoms of speech, press, information, association, assembly, movement, etc., this is simply fundamental. Only in a free society with a vigorous public space can good governance be achieved. Only if people are free to organize, protest, and petition, only if groups can assert their interests and values, only if the media can report, investigate, and expose government policies and actions without fear, can there be meaningful competition, participation, responsiveness, transparency, and accountability. Only in a climate of true political and civil freedom can a country achieve the absolute fundamental condition for development: responsible government—that is government that is committed to the advancement of the public good, rather than the private interests of its own officials and their families and their cronies.

Electoral participation is sine qua non to good governance. People at every level of public life must become involved in the decisions that affect their lives-most prominently, in the setting of priorities for the expenditure of public funds, and in the monitoring of implementation. Multiple, diverse mechanisms for public input can correct mistakes in policy design and implementation, and promote social inclusion and political ownership of policies, including painful economic reforms. It is also argued that institutionalized participation also provides channels for settling (or at least narrowing) conflicts over interests and values and for making broadly legitimate policy choices. Policies will be more likely to be stable and sustainable when they enjoy popular understanding and support, most especially when women and minorities have input into governmental decisions and also be provided with mechanism through which unfavourable policies are contested and protested against.

Liberal democracy requires responsiveness of elected officials to the needs and concerns of society. Obviously, government cannot respond fully to the interests of every group, because in any society, interests are in conflict. But different groups must be heard. They must have access to legislative debates through public hearing or other means provided for public inputs. There must be regular means by which elected representatives go back and consult with their constituencies and explain the policies of government. When there are multiple avenues for participation in policy-making, and when there is strong freedom and competition, then government will be more responsive. And since people in poor countries most of all want economic development and the physical improvement of their infrastructure and environments, responsive government will be government that seeks and promotes economic development.

On its own, good governance depicts the degree to which institutions of a particular country (such as Legislature or Judiciary) and processes (such as the role of political parties in election) are transparent, accountable to the people and allow them to freely participate in decisions that affect their lives. Good governance is when the authority of the government and sovereignty reside ultimately with the people and are responsive to them.. Good governance enhances human development and human development is the pivot around which other developmental activities revolve. Human development is the means through which other forms of development are achieved. Good governance must indeed democratise the process of decision making in a way to guarantee the involvement of the group for which decisions are being made. For example, poverty alleviation programme can only be potent and sustained only if the affected group is involved at all levels of decision making process.

Finally, democracy and good governance promote development. Liberal and consolidated democracy, the one that is competitive, open, participatory, and responsive, provides a means for citizens to monitor and evaluate the performance of government and to remove officials and representatives who pursue personal gains rather than public interest. The institutions of good governance must be funded, staffed, trained, and equipped in a manner that will investigate, expose, and punish corrupt conduct, and thus vigorously discourage it in the future.

Governance is good when it is restrained by the law; when the law is applied equally to the lowly and the highly placed in the society; when there is reasonable access to justice and when there are capable and independent authorities to adjudicate and enforce the law in a neutral and efficient manner. Expectedly therefore, good governance is achievable in the atmosphere of sustenance of the rule of law. Good governance should also focus mostly on results and not processes in order to engender development. It should be measured on government’s delivery inputs. That is, good governance is not about budget provisions; it is about actual accomplishment and its good intentions. Good governance is not only critical to development but should also have the capacity to use resources effectively to promote economic growth and reduce poverty.

Conclusion

The study analysed the synergy between globalisation, good governance and democracy. While insisting that globalisation strengthens and entrenches democracy, it, however, found out that democracy on its own does not generate good governance unless it is liberal and consolidated. Good governance and consolidated democracy are capable of evolving development through the unrestricted avenues and access it provides for both the poor and the rich, the majority and the minority, thereby reducing the spate of majoritarian tyranny. Good governance cannot be in isolation, it must be evolved within the holistically interconnected and interdependent global economic system through access to trade and other forms of aid deliberately directed at development.

Sustaining the gains of the synergy between globalization, good governance and democracy demands that the counteracting agencies should be independent and neutral. They should be supported by the civil society, including mass media and to operate in the environment of political freedom and transparency. Building a functioning judicial system, freedom of the press, free speech are inevitable in the sustenance of good governance anchored on economic reforms aimed at socio-economic development. Fight against corruption should also be taken very seriously.