Governance and Good Governance: A Conceptual Perspective

Good governance has been the subject of theoretical and pragmatic discourses during the last three decades. Recently the indeterminate terms "Governance" and Good governance are being gradually used, in the literature of political science, administrative sciences and development studies. It is being increasingly recognized that Good governance is legitimate, accountable and effective ways of obtaining and using public power and resources in the pursuit of widely-accepted social goals. Based on existing literature the study identified that good governance relates to political and institutional processes and outcomes that are deemed necessary to achieve the goals of Sustainable development. The purpose of this conceptual study is to explain, as simply as possible, the meaning of good governance and governance. By which criteria can it be measured? How is governance related to political participation and democracy? It then explores the relationship between the good governance, and sustainable development.