Good governance: a political football?

Junior consultant Maurizio Cuttin sees an unsettling trend in the politicisation of governance – but says there’s a silver lining too

In the public sector, good governance has always been heralded as a cornerstone of effective leadership and societal progress. But let’s be real—what used to be a noble ideal has increasingly morphed into a pawn in the political game.

Don’t take my word for it; look at how governance has been embedded in the language of populist leaders to accompany familiar slogans like ‘drain the swamp’ or ‘out with the establishment’. This unsettling trend raises urgent questions about the integrity of governance and its true role in our democracy, especially in today’s post-truth world.

A few weeks ago, I attended the general assembly of an umbrella organisation I have been active in as a delegate for many years. While chatting to colleagues about areas for improvement within the structure, one of my colleagues jumped in, remarking that whether we like to admit it or not, all 'governance is political', hence there will always be constraints that can’t be threaded unless one yields a commanding political needle.

This statement stuck with me the entire weekend. Why? Because, at its core, governance is often tangled up with political agendas, no matter how well-structured or altruistic it seems.

DOGE, ¡Afuera! and Reform

Take, for instance, the rise of populist leaders who hijack the language of governance to rail against perceived waste and inefficiencies. With cries to eliminate ‘waste, fraud, and abuse', they tug at the heartstrings of disillusioned constituents while crafting a narrative that serves their political ambitions.

Look at Javier Milei, the chainsaw-wielding Argentine president, whose slogan ¡Afuera! (Out!) encapsulates this approach. His relentless push for sweeping government cuts prioritises power consolidation over the public good.

And then there’s the Trump administration’s creation of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency—fondly dubbed ‘DOGE’. Sure, the aim was to make government more efficient, but against the backdrop of a divisive political landscape, it risked undermining trusted institutions and hacking away at social safety nets. By painting inefficiency as the enemy, these movements pave the way for dismantling crucial public services that many citizens depend upon.

In the UK, populist factions are increasingly adopting this dangerous narrative. They champion smaller government and slashing regulations in the name of efficiency, wielding governance principles like tools for their political mission. The result? Good governance becomes a target for political antics, manipulation, and petty point-scoring.

This isn’t just surface-level drama—it’s the tip of an iceberg that's growing ever larger. What’s posed as a push for good governance often serves as a smokescreen for bulldozing essential public projects. Consider Reform UK’s recent decision to put Kent County Council through an independent audit to unveil supposed waste. This isn’t merely about efficiency; it jeopardises vital initiatives like EDI schemes and endangers sensitive data. By sidestepping established internal audits in favour of an unknown external team, we’re inviting even bigger headaches down the line.

This trend of weaponising governance breeds distrust, undermining everything considered internal or connected to an established process, ultimately leading to greater inefficiencies. As Reform UK continues to climb in the opinion polls and expands its influence with initiatives like their own UK version of the DOGE agenda, the threat to local authorities and their operations could become even more pronounced.

It is also an issue in Brussels, where EU lawmakers are currently engaged in an intense and protracted political battle over the way the European Parliament and other EU bodies fund NGOs and the screening measures they have to root out waste.

Flipping the script

We're witnessing politicians increasingly use the language of ‘good governance’ to score political points, blurring the lines between genuine efforts to improve society (i.e., those that follow the King IV principles) and mere self-serving rhetoric designed to assign blame rather than offering solutions.

While the (growing) weaponisation of good governance poses a clear threat, it’s essential for public purpose organisations to steer clear of a defeatist mindset. Yes, politicised rhetoric is a challenge, but it can also be a catalyst for change.

The bottom line? Legitimate governance efforts can easily be overshadowed by this partisan posturing. When governance gets dragged into the political mud, organisations striving for transparency and accountability often find themselves under attack, wrongly perceived as extensions of political agendas.

But here’s the silver lining: civil society has the power to reclaim the narrative around governance. By actively participating in discussions and championing the true values of good governance, organisations can push back against the idea that governance is merely a political tool. This means fostering a deeper understanding of governance that transcends party lines and emphasises collaboration, inclusivity, and community engagement.

As citizens become increasingly aware of the politicisation of governance, there’s a growing demand for accountability and integrity in the political sphere. The role of civil society is crucial in reshaping this narrative and fostering a culture where governance is recognised for what it can truly accomplish—if we can get politics out of the way.