The “Good Governance” Crusade in the Third World: A Rich, Complex Narrative—Magic Wand or Smoke Screen

Jackson N. Maogoto, University of Newcastlle

Abstract

This Article argues that with the benefit of compounded learning of the Third World’s diverse societies and the variegated socio-political issues, this knowledge can be ploughed back into the process of developing considered, creative new options for a satisfactory collective future as a means of facilitating entrenched antagonisms giving way to shifting, overlapping coalitions and novel accommodations. The underlying theme is premised on the basis that thorny issues should and ought to be approached from different angles. This allows different groups/stakeholders to learn that having a diversity of perspectives represented in their discussions demonstrably improves outcomes (in terms of reaching workable accommodations) because it enlarges the range of options on the table and opens up new ways of thinking about old stalemates.