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Corruption and transparenCy
10
G
overnments are institutions created tomake and enforce decisions on awide
varietyof issues.These decisions range from establishing aminimum age for
marriage towhether ornot to declarewar on anothernation.Governments
also gather and distribute resources and regulate aspectsof everyday life.For instance,
governments collect taxes anduse thatmoney to pay forprograms such as education.
They alsodecidehow long aperson should attend school.
Formuch ofhumanhistory, governments existedmainly to benefit a small group
of eliteswhoheld all ormost of the political power.These elites used governments
to increase theirwealth and becomemore powerful.Rulerswere often corrupt and
dishonest.They used force to remain in power.However, the rise of
democracy
as
a political systemmade governmentsmore accountable to their citizens.Through
elections, peoplewere able to express approval or disapproval of their government’s
decisions and performance.Therefore, elected officialshad to be responsive to the
needs and desires of voters.Also, as democracy spread, people demandedmore
accountability from their elected officials.Citizenswant a government that is open and
honest, and that serves theneeds of the community.
principles of Good Governance
All citizens of a country have a right to
good governance
. This does notmean that a
governmentwill alwaysmake decisions that its citizens agreewith. Instead, itmeans
that the institution should use the best system to actuallymake those decisions—one
inwhich all policy choices are considered, and inwhich decisions are designed to
provide themost benefits for themost people.
Good governancemust be based on openness; this openness is often described
as transparency. People should be able to easily understand how andwhy a decision
wasmade.They should be allowed access to the same information, data, and
advice thatwas used by governments to enact choices.Citizens should also have
an opportunity to participate in the process by expressing their opinions and
Chapter One: What Is GOOd GOvernanCe?
11
Supporters of Ireland’s same-sexmarriage law celebrate inDublin onMay23,2015. Irelandwas
thefirst country in theworld to passmarriage equality via a referendum.
Actual Text Size
ttend school.
ts existed mainly to benefit a small group
power. These elites used governments
owerful. Rulers were often corrupt and
er. However, the rise of
democracy
as
ccountable to their citizens. Through
al or disapproval of their government’s
ed officials had to be responsive to the
acy spread, people demand d more
F OUNDAT I ONS
O F D EMOCRAC Y
The benefits of democracy can be found in all corners of
the world. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and its
communist ideology in 1991, democracy has been touted
as the only real answer to the world’s challenges. At the
same time, the true meaning and character of democracy
has never been so extensively tested: are human rights for
all more important than cultural tolerance of minorities?
Is economic freedom necessary for political freedom? How
are the rights of the media best balanced with national
security concerns? Whether it comes to defining citizenship,
protecting civil rights,
defending free speech,
or fighting corruption,
the democratic process
is always fluid and never
uncomplicated.
THE NEW SERIES, FOUNDATIONS OF
DEMOCRACY, WILL TAKE A GLOBAL
VIEW OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
CORNERSTONES OF THIS FORM
OF GOVERNMENT THAT WINSTON
CHURCHILL FAMOUSLY CALLED
“THE WORST POLITICAL SYSTEM
EXCEPT FOR ALL THE OTHERS.”