PROFESSIONALISING GOVERNANCE – Part 1
Few institutions have faced greater change over the past two decades than government itself.
Technology has accelerated the flow of information, economies have become deeply interconnected, and citizens have become better informed and more demanding.
Yet an important question remains: has governance evolved at the same pace as the world it seeks to govern?
A World in Transition
The past two decades have transformed the business of governing in ways few could have imagined.
Not long ago, governments were mandated to maintain law and order, build infrastructure, deliver public services, implement welfare schemes and keep the economy moving.
Today, they are also required to regulate artificial intelligence, secure digital infrastructure, negotiate climate commitments, respond to natural disasters and national emergencies, confront cyber threats, manage pandemics and compete for global investment.
The government’s job has expanded dramatically. But have governing institutions done so?
Generational Change
A generation ago, governments functioned in a relatively predictable environment. Information moved slowly. News travelled through newspapers, radio and television. Public opinion evolved over days and weeks rather than minutes. The administrative system moved at its own pace.
Governments have not become weaker. But governance has become far more complex.
That world no longer exists.
Today, information travels across continents in seconds. A local administrative decision can become a national debate in no time.
Governments have to explain, respond and change course in real time.
The internet, smartphones and social media have fundamentally changed the business of governing. Policies are scrutinised instantly.
Administrative decisions are analysed by subject experts, questioned by citizens and amplified across multiple digital platforms.
Governments have not become weaker. But governance has become far more complex.
The Citizen Has Changed Too
Technology has transformed not only governments but also citizens.
People today are better informed, better connected and better networked. They are more aware of their rights than ever before.
They compare public services across states and countries, track government decisions on their mobile phones and want transparency and accountability as a matter of right.
The relationship between governments and citizens has changed fundamentally.
Governments are no longer the sole source of information. Several voices shape public opinion long before official explanations.
Announcements alone do not build trust. Everyday actions of public institutions do that.
Citizens expect timely explanations, corrective action and visible accountability when the credibility of examinations, recruitment processes, digital platforms or the delivery of public services comes under a cloud.
It takes years to build trust, but in a digital world, it can be lost overnight.
Governance: A Demanding Task
Globalisation was seen largely through the lens of trade and investment. Today, it has become as much a challenge for governments as it is for businesses.
Problems in a distant shipping lane can disrupt domestic manufacturing.
A financial crisis in another continent can influence investment decisions at home.
Environmental regulations formulated thousands of kilometres away can derail exports.
Artificial intelligence is creating legal, ethical and regulatory questions that governments across the world are grappling with.
Recent controversies and scams have shown that framing policies is not the only challenge.
Administrative lapses relating to the integrity of competitive examinations, the protection of sensitive digital systems, the management of large public databases or the delivery of citizen services can quickly become a matter of national concern.
In today’s networked world, governments are accountable not only for their decisions, but also for how they respond when things go wrong.
Delivering Results
Democracy becomes legitimate through elections. Governments become credible through delivery.
Economic development and the progress of nations depend not only on political leadership but also on institutions that can translate policy into action.
Political vision sets the direction. Institutions turn vision into reality.
Democracy becomes legitimate through elections. Governments become credible through delivery.
Changing Nature of Governance
There was a time when governing was more about administration. That is no longer true.
No individual—whether politician or civil servant—can possibly master every discipline.
Modern governments have to work with scientists, industry, academia, civil society and international organisations—often simultaneously.
Their strength will depend on the resilience of the institutions that support them.
Conclusion
Professionalism is not about replacing politics with technocracy. Nor is it about questioning the democratic process.
It is about recognising that the business of governing has changed.
Democracy decides who governs. For countries of sub-continental proportions like India, institutional foundations matter.
So does sensitivity to public opinion.
From the AfroAsian Business Chronicle Archives
A Perspective from More Than 15 Years Ago
The following article was published over 15 years ago in the Afro Asian Business Chronicle, the print edition of AfroAsianNews.com. While some of the observations and recommendations reflect the context of that period, the central question it raised about governance remains strikingly relevant today.
