DailyPost 2539
GOVERNANCE OF THE WORLD: DIFFERENTIAL UNDERSTANDING, INDIFFERENT PRACTICES
Every one wants to govern whichever way he wants to and he believes that it is the best way to govern. The developing world has its own set problems and beset with those; most remain where they were couple of decades back. Every political leader is so headful with accomplishments that he has no time to understand the reality. Governance is neither a science or an art, and devoid of being any discipline has no models of its own and it keeps borrowing from management, economics and what not. If that’s not been enough, UN is always there to help with some readymade governance syrups. If that too does come handy, you can declare a model of your own.
Nobody has ever failed in governance, but more often than not, governance has failed. Governance is the most difficult thing to do, but everyone feels it is doable and is easy to get results. For some it is just declarations, for some policies, for others it can be a jamboree, even farther off it can just mean publicity. Playing with sentiments is also governance. Making a football of both hope and aspiration is for sure governance. Despair is another big bet. Governance of the world is as variegated the world itself, but certainly there are similarities amongst different groups of nations, developed, developing et al.
The developed countries got the historical lead out of resources and talent garnered, helped in creating institutions and systems that were conducive to an overall development within a workable legal framework and most of them were successful. We have some recent successes too. The understanding from top to bottom in these countries were the same and things could be pushed in the right direction and could be achieved. Besides everything mentioned above hard work had the most critical role to play. Huge successes in education, health, science and technology sealed it all.
If understanding of governance differs so much as in this country, how will we be able to set goals and targets leave aside achieving it. Bereft of having achieved any visible tangible goals in education, health, and quality of life, there are barely as models on offer, at the macro, micro or the nano levels. We are left with nothing but to celebrate some sporadic success. Have achievements and failures of any government ever been evaluated for an objective assessment? From advertisements to electoral victories, they have it all. They always carry the goal post with them. So, they will always be the winner, and people and the country the permanent loser. Government practices have become so indifferent, which gives you a feeling that physically they might be there, but for all practical purposes, they are literally missing.
HAVE WE EVEN MISSED OUT THE CHANCE OF EVEN TEACHING GOVERNANCE TO OUR RULING CLASS,? THEY NEVER NEEDED IT.
Sanjay Sahay
Have a nice evening.