The
Development of a society, country or nation means that there is a balance in
all facets of society, integrated to ensure transformation and sustainable
growth. Government on the other hand, is a term which broadly understood, means
the ordering of a group or community by a central organization or it may refer
to central organization itself. Thus, we may speak of a government of a club,
private association or a church, as well as the government or state or bodies politic. But when narrowed to its
political meaning, government refers to the management or administration of the
state. And for the purpose of this study we will look at it from this angle.
The findings of anthropology suggest that the origins of the governments are
tribal and monarchic: primitive societies are generally based on familial
relationships, and authority is often times exercised either by a man
(patriarch) or by a woman (matriarch), recognized by the others as the leader.
Until the last two centuries and a half, the idea was common among political thinkers in the
West that men once lived in a state of nature in which there was no government
or state, and that these men then joined together binding themselves with a
‘social contract” to bring a government into being which would serve their common interest. However, this view of
the origin of society and government has been wholly rejected by modern
scientific studies.
All
forms of government, however different they may be, are similar in certain
aspects. The main purpose of government is for the advancement of the society.
In other words, the purpose of all governments include the maintenance of law
and public order, the defense of society against external enemies, and the
progress and advancement of what is thought to be the welfare of the society or
the state. All governments promulgate laws binding upon all members of society
and enforce these laws by virtue of their sovereign power. Yet, all governments
endure only so long as they manage to enforce their will. Men in time past, and
still presently, have continually experimented with the forms of government,
speculated about them and analyzed their advantages and disadvantages. The
Republic of Plato and the politics of Aristotle, were classic efforts by the
Greeks of the pre-Christian era to define the possibilities and the ideals of
government. Western political theory is seen to have evolved from the writings
of these philosophers and from the experiences of the Greek city states. In
broad terms, one can say that governments may be based upon the rule of one
person, whether monarch, dictator, or tyrant; a small clique; many persons as
in a republic; or by all persons in the society as in a pure democracy; a small
number of persons as in an oligarchy, aristocracy, or military clique.
Every
good government and subsequently good governance will ultimately end up in
peace, progress, prosperity, advancement and finally development of the people
and society
at large. Regardless of the type of rule the
government is based upon, the fact remains that a leader who is unselfish and
considerate; who refuses to be enticed by frivolous and profligate measures and
pleasures, and the immediate need to gratify them at the expense of the welfare
of his subjects, will run the affairs of the state effectively with equity and
justice. In such cases, development in all ramifications of the society is
inevitable and attainable. This will be achievable because there is a balance
in the dispensation of power, authority and justice. Social and economic transformation
leads to socio-economic development. Economically, wealth and natural resources
are evenly distributed and equally fair. Scenarios, where leaders of countries
‘stash away’ heavy amounts of cash running into billions of dollars after
looting their nation’s treasuries in Swiss banks, to aid and promote their
selfish interests and greedy tendencies will be farfetched. In an era of good governance, social
integration leads to religious tolerance and harmony. Religious sentiments are
checked and controlled. Recently, a report suggests that more than three
quarters of the world’s population live in countries with significant
restrictions on religion either because of official policies or social
hostilities. Also, in a recent five year period, the number of countries with
incidents of abuse against religious minorities nearly doubled. Good governance
checks religious fanaticism and intolerance, and will ensure an atmosphere of
religious piousness coupled with harmony and acceptance. Political growth and transformation
leads to socio-political development. Political reforms and policies that make
way for leadership credibility, accountability and transparency in a society
are put in place. Youth empowerment and
youth initiative programs which encourage entrepreneurship, innovation and
development actually prepare these youths for leadership in the future. Good governance defends human rights and also
paves way for advocacy, and human rights policies.
Education development leads to increased
levels of literacy in the society. When education is given its rightful place
in the helm of affairs of the government, development of human resources and
capital is eminent. Hence, the sustainable development of that nation cannot be
hitched. The impact on the environment
is also felt when there is good governance. Environmental policies that ensure
continued protection, conservation and management programs regarding oil
exploration activities, waste disposal systems, global warming and climate
change, greenhouse effect and air pollution, water pollution, land misuse and
land pollution are vigorously adhered to. For example, a report on the state of
the Dead Sea from the region of Israel, Jordan and Palestine, states that it is
shrinking at the rate of one meter per year, and there is a possibility that it
would dry up completely by the year 2050. Officials are already seeking a
solution to the problem- one of such is to desalinate water from the Red Sea
for human consumption and then pipe the desalination by-product, brine, into
the Dead Sea. This depicts an attitude
of a good government on environmental issues.
Finally,
there is a sharp correlation between good governance and development. The
distinctive qualities are evident in all facets of the society. Peace and
conflict resolution programs are also by products of a good government. At a summit held in Havana, Cuba in early
2014, the 33 member nations of the community of Latin American and Caribbean
states declared their lands to be a peace zone by agreeing to resolve conflicts
between themselves without the use of force. A step further to ensure a
peaceful sustainable developed region.
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