Global Challenges in Governance Research 3 - Essay Example

Global Challenges in Governance-Malawi Name: Course: Tutor: Institution: Date: Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 1.0 Introduction 3 2.0 Governance Issues 3 2.1 Policies Challenges 4 2.2 Political Leadership Challenges 5 3.0 Resolution Approaches 6 3.1 Privatization 7 3.2 Democratic Governments 8 3.3 Institutional Development 9 4.0 Conclusion 10 References 11 1.0 Introduction Governance in the global nations both at the international and national levels has direct implications on a nation’s development a performance. In this case, Enderlein, Walti and Zurn (2010, p.33) described governance as the approach through which, nations apply and use political influence and control to manage the execution and utilization of resources in order to facilitate social and economic development. However, empirical studies have established that governance in the rich, medium and low income countries varies based on the challenges, issues as well as on ways and appropriate strategies to overcome the challenges. This research essay focuses on an evaluation of the challenges and ways of improving governance in the low earning countries. As such, based on the existing up to date data by the UNDP Human resource development Index 2014, the evaluation establishes that Malawi, ranking at number 174 in the index is among the low economy nations. The Nation is one of the nation states in the Southern Africa region. Although it has a brand reputation for a rich and warm culture that has earned it increased tourism gains and ratios as compared to peers in the Southern region, the nation has over the decades, since its independence faced numerous governance challenges (De, 2009, p.7). This evaluation focuses on the various governance challenged experienced in the nation, as a template for poor nations as well as offering recommendations on strategic ways to improve and overcome the identified issues. 2.0 Governance Issues Fadun (2013, p.287) conducted a critical evaluation on respective nations governance. In the analysis, the study established that the experienced challenges and issues were reliant on the economic levels in a nation. Therefore, based on the above analysis, the authors argued that nations with a shared level of economic growth as well as social status, exhibited shared governance practices and challenges. Therefore, based on the above analysis, this evaluation the Malawi governance issues and challenges are believed and will be subsequently applied as a representation of the poor nations. 2.1 Policies Challenges One of the fundamental challenges in governance of the developing and poor nations is the lack of appropriate structures and institutional policies to support key governance aspects. In this case, as Malla (2004. p.14) argued, it is imperative to note that governance success is not only on the political front but also in the social and political aspects in a nation. However, in order to achieve these respective success aspects, nations require concise strategies and policies that act as guiding frameworks in the execution and management of resources in these areas. A major challenge in the poor nations is increased political control and influence in policy formulation. Consequently, this has led to the failure of the social and political institutions as well as increased funds management due to political influence, affiliations and undue control. The above challenge is evident in the Malawian management policies on its Youth. Statistically, the national population has an average of over 50% youths. This is a clear indication of the economic potential of the base. However, as the UNDP report illustrates, the nation’s enrolment ratio to its tertiary education ratio is only at 1% (“UNDP”, 2-14). This is a clear indication of the poor existing system in the nation to enrol its youths into constructive engagements. Traditionally, Malawi had a system dubbed the Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP). The program empowered the youths into skilled manpower as well as engaging their contribution towards GDP increment through the agricultural participation in the market. However, political influence, led to the disbanding of the program. Resultantly, the nations GDP declined. In the recent past, a major challenge in the nation is lack of stringent and applicable non partial policies. This has been the case across the poor nations. In this case as He (2011, p.129) argued, most of the poor nations lack appropriate policies to guide their operations. This as the author evidenced has been a major funding challenge by the International monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. In this case, the institutions have on several occasions in liaison with other donors controlled funding to development projects in these nations due to the lack of proper and appropriate policies for the execution and management of the extended funding. 2.2 Political Leadership Challenges An additional challenge in the governance of the poor nations is increased political systems challenges. Mdluli and Vogel (2010, p.209) argued that the African continent nation, the continent with the majority of the poor nations in the world, is characterized by political dictatorship. In this regard, the evaluation targeted the continental nations such as Egypt and Libya. Similarly, although the Malawi nation has had a democratic governance system, the system is far from maturity and successful support of development. In this case, the nation adopts the representative approach where the electorate elects regional leaders to represent them in the national assembly. Although this system is expected to increase overall representation, the leadership of the late President Mbingu wa Mutharika, is a case study of the system failure. During his tenure, the national elections were allegedly marred with malpractices, thus negating the role of democracy in free and fair elections (“News 24, 2014). Consequently, this led to increased poor strategies development and failure to allow for public and nation inclusion. Thus, strikes and boycotts due to challenges such as regular black outs, lack of social amenities and rampant corruption became common in the nation between 2010-2012. This situation only changed with the emergence and rise of President Joyce Banda to power, who revolutionized the Malawian government through massive sacking of the former government corrupt and unfit officials. Evidently, the radical changes revolutionized the governance system in Malawi. Thus, this evidenced that poor political institutions, insincere leaders as well as corruption in such political institution is a major governance challenge among poor nations. Batley, McCourt and Mcloughlin (2012, p.142) expounded on this concept through a discussion of how corruption ails poor nations governance and eventual growth. In the analysis, the study sought to evaluate how increased corruption especially in the poor nation’s political systems implicates on the nature and governance efficiency. As such, the evaluation concluded that with increased corruption and lack of transparency, funding and corporation in the nations is imperatively hard. Moreover, the evaluation argued that this is a major difference between the poor and the rich countries pointing out that one strategic governance support and success aspects in the rich nations is increased transparency and accountability across the social, economic and political leadership platforms. 3.0 Resolution Approaches As discussed in the governance issues above, the poor countries current challenges can be mitigated and overcome through a series of governance management systems and approaches. In this regard, this report section evaluates on the various approaches that the existing governance challenges can be overcome across the market. 3.1 Privatization As discussed in the analysis, it is apparent that increased government involvement in business and execution of market activities especially on economic related issues has a major negative implication through increased political influence and overall corruption rates rise. Therefore, in order to mitigate this challenge, this review recommends increased privatization. Jones (2012, p.242) discussed the concept of privatization. In this case, the authors argued that privatization is a management approach through which nation shifts the ownership of its companies and organisations from government ownership to private control. The application of this approach has a series of advantages and gains. On one hand, the private sector has better qualified ad professional managers. Therefore, the shift of key industries to the private sector increases management and process execution efficiency and effectiveness. Moreover, the approach allows the government to play its regulatory role. The traditional governance system was based on government control and direct participation in services and business market. This was fundamentally so under the welfare state period. However, critics of this system argued that the approach reduced governance efficiency and economic growth rates. Therefore, as Noble and Mears (2000, p.408) stated, reduced government involvement allows it to function as independent regulator in the market, allowing for the development of appropriate and relevant regulations and framework adjudication. Based on this argument, it is evident that if the Malawian government would allow for increased privatization of key industry sectors, such as electricity and transport, increased management and governance efficiency would be enhanced. For instance, through the privatization of the energy industry, the government would acquire both internal domestic and foreign investors venturing into the market. Further, it would reduce on the nature and extents of political influence on the governance system. Instead of managing the economic progress of the nation, the political governance system would revert to the development of the required policies and regulations to enhance smooth industries operations as well as help reduce on the levels and spread of corruption in the system. Therefore, it is apparent that the application of the proposed privatization system would enhance governance efficiency both in Malawi as well as in other poor countries in Africa and across the globe. 3.2 Democratic Governments An additional challenge identified in Malawi and other poor countries is inappropriate political instability that leads to the development of systems and governance practices in which there is increased political interference and the lack of impartial support operational policies on economic and social fronts. Therefore, as a review by the International Monetary Fund (2007) stated, such lack of objectivity leads to eventual governance challenges in the poor countries. However, faced with this challenge, Fleck (2002, p.54) developed an argument on the approach and system through which this challenge can be overcome through democratic governments. The evaluation argued on the merits of adopting and embracing a democratic form of government. To this effect it argued that purely democratic governments are focus and based on transparency and accountability. Therefore, such an approach allows for objectivity in leadership. The application of a pure democratic government in Malawi, as has been the trend under the leadership of President Banda, there is increased transparency and support of social and economic policy development. This will eventually allow the international financial organs the World Bank and the IMF to increase their lobby and support of such nations. Previously, this report argues that one of the governance challenges in poor countries is lack of enough funding for critical functions. Therefore, increased funding from the two major institutions s well as other donors as a result of increased transparency and accountability under a democratic government will reduce on the financial governance challenge in Malawi. 3.3 Institutional Development This recommendation is directly linked and associated with the development and establishment of democratic government systems. Under the development and establishment of policies, the governments in the poor nations should seek to strengthen their key governance institutions. Amr (2003, p.107) stated that instead of empowering the political arm only, the nations should empower their judicial and other social and economic institutions into the future. Such an empowerment of alternative power centre besides the political institutions would allow for increased focus on policies and systems development in the organisations. Consequently, the development of such institutional policies would provide guidelines on management and governance of the respective systems allowing for increased governance success among the poor nations (Ayeni, 1993, p.47). Therefore, based on the above analysis of the Malawian as well as other poor countries governance systems and the key pertinent challenges, this report concludes that the application of the three offered recommendations would facilitate efficiency and success in the respective nation’s governance and resource adjudication and management into the future. 4.0 Conclusion In summary, this research essay evaluates the global governance issues surrounding the governance of the poor global nations. In this regard, an initial literature evaluation establishes that the economic status of respective nations influenced their governance thus leading to the conclusion that nations with a shared economic performance bracket, share similar governance issues and challenges. As such, the evaluation focuses on Malawi as a case study representing the other poor countries. In the evaluation, the essay research establishes that key among the governance challenges among the nations include poor political leadership systems as well as lack of proper policies and regulation frameworks. Therefore, the evaluation argues that increased democratic government systems adoption, polices development as well as privatization will serve as strategic measures to resolve governance challenges among the poor nations. This research concludes that the poor nation’s governance challenges are shared, but can also be resolved in the long run. References Amr, M. S. M., 2003, The role of the International Court of Justice as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, Kluwer Law International, The Hague. Ayeni, V. 1993, "Gender sensitivity in public management education in Africa", The International Journal of Public Sector Management, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 47. Batley, R. Willy McCourt, W., & Mcloughlin, C., 2012, “Editorial”, Public Management Review, vol. 14, no. 2, 131-144 De, C. S. 2009, Malawi in pictures, Twenty-First Century Books, Minneapolis, MN. Enderlein, H., Wälti, S., & Zürn, M., 2010, Handbook on multi-level governance, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK. Fadun, O.S. 2013, "Corporate Governance and Insurance Company Growth: Challenges and Opportunities", International Journal of Academic Research in Economics and Management Sciences, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 286-305. Fleck, R.K. 2002, "Democratic opposition to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938", The Journal of Economic History, vol. 62, no. 1, pp. 25-54. He, B., 2011, Civic Engagement through Participatory Budgeting In China: Three Different Logics at Work, Public Administration Development, vol. 31, pp. 122-133 International Monetary Fund, 2007, Malawi: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper - Growth and Development Strategy, International Monetary Fund, Washington, D.C. Jones, S., 2012, “The Politics of Social Rights”, Public Management Review, vol.14, no.2, 239-254 Malla, P.B. 2004, "Global corporate governance: debates and challenges", Corporate Governance, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 5-17. Mdluli, T.N. & Vogel, C.H. 2010, "Challenges to achieving a successful transition to a low carbon economy in South Africa: examples from poor urban communities", Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 205-222. News 24, 2014, Malawi Seeks Economic Freedom, [Online] Available at < http://www.fin24.com/Economy/Malawi-seeks-economic-freedom-20140707 > [Accessed October 19, 2014]. Noble, C. & Mears, J. 2000, "The impact of affirmative action legislation on women working in higher education in Australia: progress or procrastination?", Women in Management Review, vol. 15, no. 8, pp. 404-414. UNDP, Human development Index 2014. [Online] Available at < http://hdr.undp.org/en > [Accessed October 19, 2014]. Read More

The above challenge is evident in the Malawian management policies on its Youth. Statistically, the national population has an average of over 50% youths. This is a clear indication of the economic potential of the base. However, as the UNDP report illustrates, the nation’s enrolment ratio to its tertiary education ratio is only at 1% (“UNDP”, 2-14). This is a clear indication of the poor existing system in the nation to enrol its youths into constructive engagements. Traditionally, Malawi had a system dubbed the Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP).

The program empowered the youths into skilled manpower as well as engaging their contribution towards GDP increment through the agricultural participation in the market. However, political influence, led to the disbanding of the program. Resultantly, the nations GDP declined. In the recent past, a major challenge in the nation is lack of stringent and applicable non partial policies. This has been the case across the poor nations. In this case as He (2011, p.129) argued, most of the poor nations lack appropriate policies to guide their operations.

This as the author evidenced has been a major funding challenge by the International monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. In this case, the institutions have on several occasions in liaison with other donors controlled funding to development projects in these nations due to the lack of proper and appropriate policies for the execution and management of the extended funding. 2.2 Political Leadership Challenges An additional challenge in the governance of the poor nations is increased political systems challenges.

Mdluli and Vogel (2010, p.209) argued that the African continent nation, the continent with the majority of the poor nations in the world, is characterized by political dictatorship. In this regard, the evaluation targeted the continental nations such as Egypt and Libya. Similarly, although the Malawi nation has had a democratic governance system, the system is far from maturity and successful support of development. In this case, the nation adopts the representative approach where the electorate elects regional leaders to represent them in the national assembly.

Although this system is expected to increase overall representation, the leadership of the late President Mbingu wa Mutharika, is a case study of the system failure. During his tenure, the national elections were allegedly marred with malpractices, thus negating the role of democracy in free and fair elections (“News 24, 2014). Consequently, this led to increased poor strategies development and failure to allow for public and nation inclusion. Thus, strikes and boycotts due to challenges such as regular black outs, lack of social amenities and rampant corruption became common in the nation between 2010-2012.

This situation only changed with the emergence and rise of President Joyce Banda to power, who revolutionized the Malawian government through massive sacking of the former government corrupt and unfit officials. Evidently, the radical changes revolutionized the governance system in Malawi. Thus, this evidenced that poor political institutions, insincere leaders as well as corruption in such political institution is a major governance challenge among poor nations. Batley, McCourt and Mcloughlin (2012, p.142) expounded on this concept through a discussion of how corruption ails poor nations governance and eventual growth.

In the analysis, the study sought to evaluate how increased corruption especially in the poor nation’s political systems implicates on the nature and governance efficiency. As such, the evaluation concluded that with increased corruption and lack of transparency, funding and corporation in the nations is imperatively hard. Moreover, the evaluation argued that this is a major difference between the poor and the rich countries pointing out that one strategic governance support and success aspects in the rich nations is increased transparency and accountability across the social, economic and political leadership platforms. 3.

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