GOVERNANCE IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE
| Published date | 01 October 2012 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/pad.1621 |
| Date | 01 October 2012 |
| Author | Brendan M. Howe |
GOVERNANCE IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE
BRENDAN M. HOWE*
Ewha Womans University, South Korea
SUMMARY
We expect those who govern to do so in the interests of the governed. From an international institutional perspective on
governance, derived from major international donor frameworks (IMF, WB, EU), good governance refers to efficiency in the
provision of services and economic competitiveness. Increasingly, good governance has also come to mean accountability in
the provision of services and in the generation and distribution of the collective good. Although even then, there are concerns
regarding the impact on the extreme poor, cultural relativity and path dependency, as aggregate measurements of success are
used, top-down exogenous values and primarily Western standards are imposed and political rights are prioritised over other,
perhaps more immediate, entitlement rights. This article returns to a fundamental conceptualisation of governance, arguing that
the ‘right’approach to public administration is that which provides for the basic human needs of all to the greatest extent, but in
particular, provides for those of the most vulnerable sections of society. Poverty is one of the greatest challenges to human
security and basic human needs, in particular, as addressed in this article, when it is linked to insecurity due to the impact
and legacy of conflict. Thus, the article examines conceptual and policy problems related to the provision of ‘safe havens’
for the vulnerable, regardless of their citizenship status. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
key words—governance; human security; development; most vulnerable; poverty; safe havens
INTRODUCTION
This article conducts an analysis of the relationship between good governance, public administration and poverty
reduction. Essentially, it argues that the ‘right’approach to public administration is that which provides for the
basic human needs of all to the greatest extent, but in particular, provides for those of the most vulnerable sections
of society; that is to say, an approach with a bottom-up focus on development and administration which conceivably
challenges top-downapproaches, prioritising efficiency and aggregate measurements and a focus on ‘real’normative
values ratherthan market values. Within the boundariesof a state, this amounts to good nationalgovernance, but good
global governance in some instances requires us to disregard international boundaries and the artificial moral legiti-
macy of the state, prioritising the pressing needs of the most vulnerable sections of international society irrespective
of their nationality. One of the most pressing global needs is, of course, the need to eliminate poverty wherever it
occurs, in rich countries as well as those deemed less developed, but in particular, as addressed in this article, when
it is linked to insecurity due to the impact and legacy of conflict. Good governance within states of all levels of
development implies a concern with regard to providing for the poorest and/or empowering them to provide for
themselves. Good international governance implies empowering and encouraging states to enact policies that reflect
these aims and also taking action when states are unable or unwilling to protect, provide for or empower the poorest.
Thus, the article examines conceptual and policy problems in dealing with governance challenges related to the
provision of ‘safe havens’where human security and basic human needs of the most vulnerable sections of global
society are protected regardless of their citizenship status.
*Correspondence to: B. M. Howe, GraduateSchool of InternationalStudies, Ewha WomansUniversity, 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu,Seoul
120–750, South Korea. E-mai l: bmg.howe@gmail.com
public administration and development
Public Admin. Dev. 32, 345–356 (2012)
Published online in Wiley Online Library
(wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/pad.1621
Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
To continue reading
Request your trial