Governance Research Articles

Analysis of the Role of Agile Governance in the Development of the Smart City Concept: A Qualitative Study of the Banyumas Regency Government, Indonesia

The smart city concept has become a new paradigm in urban development, offering innovative solutions to improve people's quality of life. Agile governance, with its flexibility and adaptability, is a promising approach in managing the complexity of smart city development. This research aims to analyze the role of agile governance in developing the smart city concept in the Banyumas Regency Government, Indonesia. This research uses a qualitative approach with a case study of the Banyumas Regency Government. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with relevant government officials, document analysis, and field observations. Data analysis was carried out using thematic coding and triangulation techniques to ensure the validity and reliability of the research results. The research results show that agile governance plays an important role in developing the smart city concept in Banyumas. Agile principles such as collaboration, iteration, and focus on customer value have been adopted in the planning, implementation, and evaluation processes of smart city programs. Agile governance allows governments to respond quickly to change, actively involve the public, and optimize the use of resources. Agile governance has proven effective in overcoming the challenges of complexity and uncertainty in smart city development. Implementing agile governance can increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of smart city programs. This research contributes to the development of agile governance theory and practice in the context of smart cities, as well as providing recommendations for other local governments who wish to adopt this approach.

Can NATO Be Considered as an International Regime?

In the following paper, with the assistance of the international regime theory and hegemonic stability theory, a better understanding of the formation and creation of NATO is provided. The topic is linked to the ongoing debate about its future and to the high tensions currently taking place in Eastern Ukraine. The paper forms the hypothesis that NATO has been created to advocate the interest of the US. Based on qualitative research methodology, the main conclusion is that the current hegemon status of the US is under threat, which is resulting in higher maintenance costs.

Public Participation in the Management of Traditional Markets from the Perspective of Local Governance

Background: Regional economic development necessitates a complex process involving various initiatives and collaboration between the government and the local community to enhance employment opportunities and community welfare. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the trade sector, mainly traditional markets, which have experienced a decline in the number of traders and turnover. Traditional markets, which play a crucial role in the distribution of local products and the provision of employment, need help with management and must compete with modern shopping centers. To sustain and enhance the competitiveness of traditional markets, professional management and revitalization are required, adhering to health, hygiene, and safety standards. Additionally, adaptation to digitalization is essential despite posing challenges in maintaining the traditional characteristics of these markets. Success in managing traditional markets necessitates active participation and collaboration between the central government, local government, the private sector, and the community. This reflects the concept of local governance, which involves multiple actors in addressing local issues. Research Methods: This study employs a qualitative descriptive method to analyze public participation in managing traditional markets in Bengkulu City. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with stakeholders, including market traders, market managers, and local government officials. Direct observations were also conducted to understand the market management dynamics better. Data analysis was carried out thematically to identify patterns of participation and the factors influencing them. This approach allows the researcher to explore the experiences and perceptions of market participants and identify barriers and opportunities for enhancing public participation. Theoretical Review: This research draws on the theories of public participation and local governance in managing traditional markets. Public participation involves the active engagement of the community in the decision-making processes that concern their interests. This theory emphasizes the importance of information openness, transparency, and commitment from all parties to achieve optimal outcomes. Meanwhile, local governance refers to managing public resources by local governments involving various stakeholders such as the community, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations. This approach highlights the importance of collaboration and partnership in creating market management more responsive to community needs. By understanding and applying the principles of these two theories, it is expected that the management of traditional markets can be more effective and sustainable, especially in facing challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Result and Discussion: This study employs a descriptive research design with a qualitative approach. Data were collected through interviews, field notes, and other documents. This research aims to comprehensively and thoroughly understand the phenomenon of public participation in the management of Panorama Market in Bengkulu City from the perspective of local governance: the research procedures involved snowball and purposive sampling, triangulation of data collection, and inductive data analysis. In this study, the researcher was directly involved in the research setting through both field observations and social interactions with the research subjects. The qualitative method was chosen because the research problem still needs to be clearly defined, and sufficient data must still be provided. This method allows for a broader and deeper depiction of the social processes being studied. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that public participation and local governance play crucial roles in managing traditional markets, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Collaboration between the government, the community, and the private sector is critical to effective and sustainable management. By applying the principles of public participation and local governance, the management of traditional markets can be enhanced to face future challenges better.

Analysis of Extreme Weather Events in Coastal Regions in Mozambique

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate on the analysis of extreme weather events in coastal regions in Mozambique. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: In Mozambique, coastal regions are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change. Analysis indicates a rise in extreme precipitation events, with a significant increase in the potential for heavier rainfall due to warmer air temperatures, which can hold more moisture. This trend is likely to result in more frequent intense weather events, heightening the risk of flooding. Socio-economic disparities exacerbate the impact of these events, particularly in rural areas with limited infrastructure and preparedness. Efforts to integrate climate change into the developmental agenda are crucial for enhancing resilience and preparedness against these growing risks. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Complexity theory, resilience theory & governance theory may be used to anchor future studies on analysis of extreme weather events in coastal regions in Mozambique. Implement and enhance early warning systems tailored to coastal hazards, including storm surges, hurricanes, and sea-level rise. Advocate for integrated coastal zone management policies that incorporate climate resilience considerations into coastal development planning. Policies should support adaptive governance frameworks that facilitate coordinated responses across multiple sectors and levels of government.

The core meaning of the three major global initiatives and the logic of global governance

In the new era, Chinese President Xi Jinping has continuously put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, which complement each other and aim to build a peaceful, prosperous and diverse world. Development is the foundation of security and civilization, and security is the premise of development and civilization. We need to build a community with a shared future for mankind based on the global development initiative, the global security initiative, and the global civilization initiative as the clarion call. The "Three Global Initiatives" have supplemented and improved western global governance theories from many aspects, demonstrated the unique understanding and practice of Chinese-style modernization, injected new impetus into the building of a more just and equitable international order, and provided new ideas and solutions for global governance.

Trusting the trust machine: How does blockchain-enabled governance configuration enhance financing credibility?

This study highlights the role of blockchain technology in addressing the trust crisis in supply chain operations and financial activities. While previous research has acknowledged blockchain as a response to trust issues, limited studies have explored its specific contributions and its impact on accelerating cash flow in supply chains. Drawing on governance theory, this study investigates the relationship between blockchain technology and supply chain finance (SCF) through multiple case studies. The central argument is that blockchain technology alone does not automatically generate trust. Instead, trust is established through the configuration of various governance mechanisms. We propose that trust in blockchain applications is derived from two main factors: the requirement of codifiability and verifiability. Through a cross-case analysis, we found that in situations where both the requirement of codifiability and verifiability are high, blockchain governance tends to dominate. When only one factor is high, a configuration of blockchain governance and relational governance emerges. When both factors are low, contractual governance proves to be efficient. This study underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of trust dynamics in blockchain applications and highlights the importance of considering contextual factors in trust research related to blockchain technology.

Social licensing and dependencies: Implications for mine closure in South Africa

The social license to operate that the mining sector uses to ensure local consent has come under criticism. Yet research seldom investigates the dependencies created by this license. To remedy this deficiency, we used the dependencies identified by evolutionary governance theory to examine three case studies of a social license to operate in mining areas in South Africa. We found that the license can create rigidity and conflicts. Interdependencies are visible in both cooperation and conflict between the mines and NGOs. Goal dependency is visible in the adverse consequences that follow when communities want to redress historical inequalities as well as in the emphasis on creating trust. Path dependency is visible in the persistence of a mindset associated with a mining boom. We argue that proponents of the social license to operate should consider the dependencies that their activities cause and the long-term implications when a mine closes.

The Theory of International Regimes and US-Soviet Cooperation during the Cold War

The main question examined in this paper is whether the cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War can be explained by Robert O. Keohane's theory of international regimes, based on his analysis of international regimes and cooperation in his book After Hegemony. My answer is no. In order to explain the reasons, this paper is mainly divided into two parts. The first part summarizes the relationship between international regimes and international cooperation as Keohane sees it through an examination of chapters three to six of After Hegemony. The core task of the second part is to explain why the theory of international regimes is not consistent with U.S.-Soviet cooperation during the Cold War, and to show that realpolitik can explain U.S.-Soviet cooperation during the Cold War better than the theory of international regimes by explaining cooperation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in the areas of arms control and trade and commerce, using the 1970s, the second period of détente between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, as the time frame.

Decolonizing IT governance in international non‐governmental organisations: An Ubuntu approach

AbstractIT has an enormous potential to democratise, equalise and decolonize development aid; however, the right IT governance is needed to actualize this potential. Such governance must align with the general efforts in development work to decolonize and eradicate adverse power imbalances. Power imbalances are at play when donors from the Global North finance and thereby set the development agenda for the Global South without concern for the actual needs. IT use in development aid is an important tool in decolonisation struggles, but corresponding structures also risk cementing problematic power distributions. As such, guidelines are needed on how to set up and decolonize IT governance structures. Using insights from a case study of a large international development aid NGO and building on the African emancipation philosophy Ubuntu, we propose five organising principles for a decolonized IT governance. These organising principles serve as guidelines to set up decolonized and emancipating IT governance structures and extend current IT governance theories.

Exploring Theories and Social Policy Changes During COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to the capacity of developed welfare states to meet emerging needs. In its initial year, the pandemic prompted a wave of new social policy programmes and modifications to existing ones. This study empirically investigates the applicability of various social theories in elucidating the dynamics of social policy changes during the COVID-19 crisis. Reflective analysis employs Hegelian dialectics as a methodological framework on established theories, including welfare regime theory, path dependence theory, path creation, and incorporates contemporary perspectives such as capability theory. The aim is to reflect and discern what these approaches explain and how these theoretical paradigms account for the observed shifts in social policy dynamics. The paper builds on previously published studies focused on the dynamics of persistence and change, mitigation and prevention, divergence and convergence, and continuity and irruption in social policies implemented in response to the pandemic. The article also contributes at developing a theoretical and methodological reflective approach to examine social policy changes in multiple contexts.

Desiring Omelette Not Breaking the Egg: Democracy, Elections and Good Governance in Africa

The quest for good governance, development, and good life for the people which African leaders hoped will be propelled by democracy prompted them to embrace western liberal democracy However, the objective condition in many African countries reveals fundamental gap between expectations and the realities. In line with these actualities, this paper examines the differences between Africans desire for democracy and the attendant expectations and the present reality and reasons for the chasm. It examines election and electoral issues as factors in democracy and good governance. In doing this, the paper adopts content analysis of data gathered essentially from secondary sources and adopts good governance theory. The paper contends that although African leaders and people are desirous of good governance and has put in place democratic structures expected to achieve good governance, these democratic institutions, and structures; the contents and processes have not vivified good governance. It argues that the challenges of democracy and good governance in many African countries are poor election and electoral system. This is because the democratic structures and the manner of conduct of elections characterized by corruption, violence, lack of adequate ideological depth on the part of political parties and service-oriented approach to politics, personalization of, and under-performing institutions among other factors negate the principles of democracy and cannot produce good leadership and good governance. The paper concludes that though multi-party elections have been held in many countries in Africa since 1990, the quality of these elections for the advancement of democracy and by extension good governance has generated concerns and query the sense of optimism for multi-party elections. It therefore argues that for African countries to achieve the desirous goals and benefits of democracy, good governance and development, elections must be free, fair, and conducted regularly. Also, political parties and democratic institutions and structures must be adequately strengthened to function properly.

Troubling dualisms: Understanding the creation and implementation of protective policies in elite women's sport

In today's political environment, questions of “fairness,” “protection,” and “woman” remain contentious topics, particularly in sport, and draw from different types of knowledges to support corresponding regulatory documents. Considering the heterogeneity of knowledge informing protection for (women) athletes, there remain questions around how to create (policy) guidelines, which ostensibly convey consensus on complex topics (e.g. female eligibility, trans eligibility, and athlete health). In this article, we draw from Anne Fausto-Sterling's “dueling dualisms” and Michel Foucault's theory of governmentality to examine what, how, and why specific ways of knowing make their way into written policies whereas others are left out or re-interpreted. To do so, we examine three International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Athletics (WA) policy texts (i.e. the IOC's consensus statement on relative energy deficiency in sport [REDs] and WA's female and transgender eligibility policies) and interviews with IOC and WA experts. We find disconnects between expert knowledge, written texts, and anticipated policy implementations, despite the perception of consensus in written documents. These discrepancies especially manifest in the ideas of policies as both a scientific process and a felt experience, and controlled unfairness.

Information Resilience in Networks: An Analysis of a National Security Legislation Evidence Base

Governance theory emphasises that networks are pivotal to societal governance and related steering mechanisms. One important means of steering is legislation, the evidence base of which is built on the interaction between social actors and the expert hearings related to the legislative process. This research uses network analysis to examine the construction of a legislative knowledge base and the information resilience displayed in the related networks. The data are derived from experts (n=440) appearing in committee hearings on five proposed acts of parliament. The results show that the expert consultations behind the legislation are official-oriented and illuminate the limited information produced by the private sector and a narrow view of scientific expertise. The network reveals epistemic authorities – mainly representing the security cluster – acting as gatekeepers. A more systemic approach is needed to build an evidence base encompassing the views on societal phenomena derived from different disciplines.

Foucault, Governmentality and the Performance Management of Academics: A Case Study at a South African University

This article examines the power dynamics underpinning performance management at a selected South African university. It specifically employs Michel Foucault’s (1977) ideas on Governmentality to interpret the envisioning of performance management in this context at the level of Policy. Drawing upon Michel Foucault’s (1991) ideas on governmentality, a discourse analysis of Performance Management Policy documents is conducted with the goal of critically interrogating what is unquestionably a new academic subjectivity in the South African higher education sector- a subjectivity that is constantly controlled and regulated. We argue that performance management should take into stronger cognizance the matters of choice, voice, and multiplicity of roles within its discourses. There is much we can learn from governmentality theory if we hope to build more just and equitable societies going forward.

A study on the evolutionary game theory of third-party governance of environmental pollution based on the quasi-co-owned relationship of pollution rights

The third-party governance of environmental pollution and the pollution rights trading system are two typical examples of modern environmental governance systems. In China, the quasi-co-owned relationship of pollution rights between pollution-discharging and pollution-control enterprises is the link through which to achieve synergy between the two factors. To explore how to achieve such synergy, first, the “principle of no-fault liability” is introduced, and the responsibilities of pollution-discharging enterprises and pollution-control enterprises are defined. Second, based on the quasi-co-owned relationship of pollution rights, a revenue-sharing mechanism for pollution rights trading is designed. Finally, a tripartite evolutionary game model consisting of pollution-discharging enterprises, pollution-control enterprises and local governments is constructed, and numerical simulation is performed. The results are as follows. 1) By setting a reasonable market trading price for pollution rights, a reward and punishment distribution coefficient, an improvement in reputation gains, and a saving in pollution rights indicators become conducive to the formation of cooperative relationships between pollution-discharging and pollution-control enterprises, for which the reasonable range of the reward and punishment distribution coefficient is (0.3, 0.4]. 2) Regardless of whether a government subsidy is provided, the optimal range of the revenue-sharing coefficient from pollution rights trading is [0.5, 0.6]. 3) When a government subsidy is withdrawn, increasing the market trading price and surplus indicators of pollution rights can promote the stable operation of the third-party governance model. 4) An increase in policy support and administrative accountability of higher levels of government and a reduction in supervision costs for local governments can help these parties effectively avoid addressing the absence of local government supervision. It is recommended that third-party governance enterprises participate in pollution rights trading to implement the main responsibilities of pollution-discharging and pollution-control enterprises and to set a reasonable revenue-sharing coefficient and reward and punishment distribution coefficient of pollution rights.

An alternative organizational model for a more democratic and equitable digital economy: A systematic literature review on platform cooperativism through the lens of stakeholder theory. Competitive advantages and challenges

AbstractPlatform cooperatives, namely, businesses that sell goods or services primarily through a website, mobile app, or protocol and commit to the principles of democratic governance and shared ownership, have lately been proposed as a more sustainable, equitable and, under certain conditions, even efficient alternative to the organizational model of commercial platforms. Accordingly, they have been presented as economic institutions capable of involving all their relevant stakeholders in an extended and inclusive governance structure. Nevertheless, this emerging literature is still characterized by the lack of a holistic and analytic framework connecting the dispersed studies on the topic through the lens of stakeholder theory and detailing strategic complementarities between these different stakeholders. Related to this point, while dealing with the competitive advantages and challenges of platform cooperatives, little reference has been made to the existing debate in governance theory about the advantages and challenges of cooperative firms as compared to capitalist ones. These research gaps motivated our literature review, which is the first comprehensive systematic review specifically focused on this topic. Given the still‐emerging character of the research object, our work also makes way for future updates as new contributions are gradually published.

Collaborative Governance in Handling the Covid-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) Pandemic in Mangkubumen Sub District, Banjarsari District, Surakarta City

Indonesia is one of states affected by Covid-19 pandemic. Government has taken various attempts and made many policies to overcome Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Surakarta city is one of cities located in Central Java Province with high distribution rate. Mangkubumen sub district being the location of research is one of Sub District with the relatively low number of positive cases compared with some other sub district and has achieved zero cases in certain months in 2021. The objectives of research are to describe and to analyze the measures the Mangkubumen Sub District has taken in collaboration to overcome Covid-19 pandemic. The method used in this research was descriptive qualitative one, analyzed using Technique of Analyzing Data according Huberman and Saldana (2014:14). The management of Covid-19 pandemic Mangkubumen sub district was analyzed using Collaborative Governance theory suggested by De Seve (2007:50), consisting of eight indicators: Network Structure, Trust among the participants, Governance, Access to authority, Distributive accountability, Information sharing, and Access to resources. From the result of research, it can be concluded that the Covid-19 pandemic management in Mangkubumen sub district ran successfully, based on Collaborative Governance indicator.

What is at stake and what does it take? Collaborative governance and policy (in)action in the adoption of a National Forest Programme

AbstractInspired by collaborative governance theory, this study analyzes the process dynamics, outputs, and perceived impacts of a collaborative initiative launched by the Swedish government in 2014. It draws on extensive empirical sources related to the Swedish government's efforts to develop and implement a National Forest Programme (NFP) from 2014 to 2021. These sources include semistructured interviews, observations, public consultation comments, records of meetings and public hearings, reports from dialogues, and enacted policy documents. The results show that the collaboration initially provided a space for joint deliberation and capacity building on complex and contentious issues related to current land use. However, the final programme endorsed by the government in 2018 failed to initiate ambitious proposals on several key issues raised by participating actors, offering little indication of priorities and policy instruments to address fundamental gaps in current policy goals and their implementation. Consequently, the case reveals that it was not sufficient, and perhaps not even desirable, to address existing conflicts and policy problems in a comprehensive collaborative setting run by the Government Offices. The paper concludes with key insights for research on collaboration and suggests ways to move forward with policy designs that integrate multiple and competing policy goals in contested areas.

Project Management theories and Corporate Governance: Towards Effective Management of Small Farming Cooperative Projects

Project management is defined as the process of applying project knowledge, skills, tools and processes to the established tasks of a project to fulfil the objectives of the project. The planning, execution, controlling, monitoring and closure processes are guided by domains of expertise such as integration, scope, budget, schedule, quality, procurement, communication, human resources, stakeholder management and risk management. This paper sought to analyze theories of project management and corporate governance for effective management of small farming cooperatives. The study adopted a conceptual approach to demonstrate the managerial processes of the theories of project management and corporate governance and how they relate to one another. In the process the literature has revealed that project management is seen by organizations as new methods to plan and manage changes. These planned activities, if not properly coordinated using project management skills, may lead to an unsuccessful project. Project success depends on number of factors ranging from project efficiency, impact on the customer, impact on the project team impact and business or organizational success. The Corporate governance (CG) has been increasingly prevalent in organizations in recent years, and its significance is now acknowledged on a global scale. It has even been adopted by countries where regulations governing the use of CG in organizations have yet to be implemented. The reason for CG's universal appeal is that it serves as the cornerstone of an organization’s operational structure. The article concludes with the relevance of these theories towards effective management of small farming cooperatives.

Empowering the Relationship Between the Government Functional Departments and Local Government Integration: An Integrated Study Based on Urban Digital Governance Platforms

Within the context of modernising government governance, the "platform" in the construction of digital government has become key in driving the efficiency of government services and management. This paper, based on the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework and combined with theories of holistic governance and collaborative governance, delves into the crucial role of information technology and emerging governance models in eliminating barriers between government departments, optimising departmental structures, and fostering mechanisms for inter-departmental collaboration and sharing. Throughout the research, emphasis is placed on the importance of emerging technologies such as cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence in promoting efficient collaboration and resource sharing between government departments. By integrating and optimising governmental internal and inter-departmental data resources and service processes, it is possible to effectively advance the enhancement and integration of the relationship between the government functional departments and local government relations, adapt to the rapid changes in societal demands, and provide more precise and convenient public services. The core objective of this study is to establish a unified government big data platform, promoting the optimisation and integration of departmental structures, constructing an efficient mechanism for departmental collaboration and sharing, achieving data sharing and flow, and establishing a tight governance network. This aims to comprehensively enhance government governance capabilities and service quality, provide assurance for achieving more efficient and equitable governance objectives.