Understanding Governance: Structure, Processes, and Accountability

In this post, we delve into the fundamental concept of governance, exploring its definition, key components, and significance across different sectors. Learn about the structures, processes, and accountability mechanisms that define effective governance in organizations, societies, and nations.

Discover why good governance is crucial for stability, growth, and trust, and how it impacts overall prosperity and peace. Whether you’re a student, professional, or a curious individual, this video will equip you with a deeper understanding of how governance shapes our world.

Governance refers to the processes, systems, and policies through which a variety of organizations, be it a country, a corporation, or a non-profit entity, are controlled and directed.

• It is the style of leadership that a government or authority uses to run a country.
• This includes the process of decision making and leadership.
• To distinguish the term governance from government; “governance” is the concrete activity that reproduces an organisation.
• It is primarily about what the relevant “governing body” does.
• It is primarily about the rules and norms that guide the relevant activity.
• Whether the organisation is a nation-state or corporate entity (business), its governance is the way the rules and actions are produced, sustained, and regulated.

Factors to consider when classifying the system of government

• Whether leaders are elected or born leaders
• The way the leadership is structured
• Who has the power to make or change laws
• Who has the right to elect the leader

System of governance

It is divided into two and these are democracy and dictatorship
• Democracy is when people can elect their own leaders
• Dictatorship is when people in a country do not have a say in government or how the country is run.

Democracy

• Democracy means rule by the people.
• In a democracy, people elect their leaders
• Election should be free and fair

Forms of democracy

Direct democracy:

• is where people directly take part in making decisions on matters that affect them.
• For example, in smaller communities such as villages people can express their views
directly on what they want to see happening

Representative democracy

• It is also called parliamentary democracy
• It is used when it is not possible or practical for everyone to take part directly in making
decisions
• For example, decisions on day by day about how the country should be run.

 Please visit and subscribe to our YouTube Channel: Decroly Education Centre (youtube.com) or Centre for Elites – YouTube