Throughout the course of this reflective marker, I will be putting forward my thoughts on the importance of institutions in shaping governance outcomes in less affluent nations. Attention will be paid to analysing all relevant issues and focussing upon related information from the course material. The aim will be to both reflect upon the ideas that have already been expressed about this topic and describe my own personal opinion.
In ‘The Politics and Governance of Public Services in Developing Countries’, Batley, McCourt and Mcloughlin put forward the idea that institutions that provide services help to shape the incentives and interests of political figures in poorer nations (2012). It stands to reason that they therefore have a role to play in determining governance. If they have a direct effect upon party politics then they will have a role to play in the assignment of power. I believe that they subtly shape governance outcomes in this manner.
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Sometimes an international institution can affect governance outcomes in a nation. In ‘A Toxic Mix? Comparative Efficiency and the Privatization of Sanitation Services in India’, Jonathan Murphy referenced a situation in which the World Bank proposed reforms to the governance of India’s sanitation and water sector. However Murphy pointed out that the World Bank was oblivious to key features of Indian society when it intervened, most notably the conditions of the caste that was charged with the task of operating the sanitation system (Murphy, 2010). In my opinion, this suggests that institutions that are not based within a country can exert an influence over governance outcomes but the steps that they are instrumental in bringing in will be lacking in geographically and culturally specific knowledge. This means that they will be less effective than those that are brought about by internal institutions.
Another example of external institutions influencing governance in a nation is the international funding agencies and Western donor governments that influenced the power structure of South Africa. The country created a situation whereby local governing bodies were given a greater amount of power in order to conform to the wishes of these institutions (Tapscott, 2008). In my view, this is not necessarily a good thing, as the World Bank is unlikely to be familiar with the intricacies of societies within less developed nations.
Institutions do not always play a key role in shaping governance outcomes in poor countries; there is evidence that the people within an area can have just as much of an influence. According to Iwan et al, local social forces in Malinau, Indonesia, have restricted the access of the local government with regards to management of the forestry areas (2006). This shows the fact that the power of the local population can sometimes be more influential than attempts by institutions to bring about changes. I believe that it demonstrates the fact that, whilst institutions might be important at shaping governance outcomes for poor countries, they are one of many different forces that comes into play.
In Nepal, the lack of services provided by healthcare institutions has caused a large proportion of the population to view itself as being neglected by the state (Jones, 2012). This means that the poor standard of care provided by these institutions could indirectly shape governance outcomes because they are creating a situation in which it is likely that local authorities will start to govern the dispensation of healthcare. In my opinion, this demonstrates the fact that institutions can alter the way in which a nation is governed without even deliberately setting out to do so. It shows that their failing as well as their successes can create situations that possess the potential to cause changes in this area.
The World Bank has been responsible for emphasizing the need for nations to have top-down accountability, involving governance at various different levels (Batley, McCourt & Mcloughlin, 2012). This is an example of an international institution indirectly influencing governance outcomes. It suggests that external bodies can place pressure upon poorer nations to give a degree of power and responsibility to smaller regions within countries. In my opinion, this demonstrates the fact that institutions are instrumental in improving the amount of clout that is wielded by local communities.
Jones argues that institutional reform can bring about a state of governance that pays more attention to groups within that were previously marginalized (2012). This suggests that as well as granting power on a regional level, institutions can also play an important role in ensuring that large areas are governed as a whole rather than as a series of smaller areas. This is important because it promotes equality and makes sure that certain groups do not receive preferential treatment. It demonstrates the fact that institutional bodies can affect the ways in which countries are governed in a multitude of different ways and indicates that this is a complex issue that can have a number of different possible outcomes. I believe that this highlights the complicated relationship between institutions and governance.
In conclusion, it is clear that both internal and international institutions can play a significant role in shaping governance outcomes. However international institutions sometimes lack the specific geographic and cultural knowledge that is required in order to create the most beneficial outcomes for a nation. Institutions affect governance both deliberately and unknowingly; they can act as a catalyst for power being granted to smaller regions within in a nation or create situations in which most aspects are governed by the state as a whole.
- Batley, R., McCourt, W. & McLoughlin, C., 2012. The Politics and Governance of Public Services in Developing Countries. Public Management Review, 14 (2), pp. 131-144.
- Jones, S., 2012. The Politics of Social Rights. Public Management Review, 14 (2), pp. 239-254.
- Iwan et al, 2006. Between State and Society: Local Governance of Forests in Malinau, Indonesia. Forest Policy and Economics, 8, pp. 421-433.
- Murphy, J., 2010. A Toxic Mix? Comparative Efficiency and the Privatization of Sanitation Services in India. Public Administration and Development, 30, pp. 124- 135.
- Tapscott, C.. The Challenges of Deepening Democracy in Post-Apartheid South Africa. In: F. Saito, ed. 2008. Foundations for Local Governance. New York: Springer, pp. 213-231.
