good governance
Ethical public management
Good governance describes how institutions—especially governments—exercise authority effectively, transparently, and accountably.
The phrase implies responsiveness to citizens, rule of law, absence of corruption, and inclusive decision-making.
International development organizations use it as a benchmark: The loan was conditional on good governance reforms.
The term can be vague enough to mean whatever the speaker values in administration.
- rule of lawSupremacy of established laws
- transparencyState of being see-through
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- stewardshipResponsible care of entrusted things
- fiscal responsibilityPrudent management of funds
accountability · public accountability · public trust · citizen engagement · justice · democratization · term limits · integrity · ombudsman · responsibility · human rights · fiduciary duty · participation · checks and balances · oversight committees · inclusivity · civil society · fairness
- anticorruptionanti-graft, ethics commission, ethics committee, financial disclosure, graft
- business ethicscode of conduct, ethics code, codes of conduct, ethics training, ethics committee
- EU-ACP Aidpartnership agreement, development aid
- Peacekeepingpeacekeepers, peacekeeping missions, blue helmets, UN peacekeeping, UN missions
- transparencyopenness, disclosure, clarity, honesty, candor
good governancecorruption
Dishonest abuse of power
kleptocracy · graft · cronyism · nepotism · malfeasance
good governancetyranny
Oppressive, absolute governance
despotism · dictatorship · autocracy · authoritarianism · totalitarianism
good governancemisgovernance
Poor public administration
maladministration · misrule · failed state · mismanagement · dysfunction
good, goods, goodness, goodly, govern, governance, governs, governed, governing