Governance is Political in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

'Governance' is governing-- what governments do, however well they do it. Discussions about governance tend to focus on issues of corruption, or on administrative processes, whereas political structures and processes are often ignored. This paper argues that governance is a highly political topic, and cannot be examined solely in administrative terms. Economic structures also determine the activities of state and affect governance. The consequences of poor governance are a decline in public welfare, unpopular government and loss of authority for the state. Not only do most provinces in Papua New Guinea lack sufficient funding and staff for their range of responsibilities, but they suffer from a political structure which is quite dysfunctional. This paper points towards the need for a frank and fearless review of political and provincial governance structures, without ejecting 'the baby with the bathwater '.