The illusory lure of good governance and the hard realities of growth in poor countries

Key information

Date
Time
5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
Venue
Brunei Gallery
Room
Lecture Theatre

About this event

Professor Mushtaq Khan

Chair: Professor John Toye, University of Oxford

Professor Paul Webley, Director and Principal of SOAS, will preside.

In his inaugural lecture Professor Mushtaq Khan will discuss how the good governance agenda has defined a set of goals for developing countries that are widely supported within developing countries and internationally. These goals include the protection of property rights, rooting out corruption, achieving accountable and democratic governments, and imposing a rule of law. All of these objectives are eminently desirable. However, the empirical evidence strongly shows that countries achieved (relatively) good governance only as a result of development and not as a necessary precondition. All poor countries fail the good governance test but some perform better than others. This evidence forces us to look for a different set of governance capabilities that can help developing countries make faster transitions to greater prosperity (and good governance).

The event will be followed by a reception.

Organiser: SOAS

Contact email: mo2@soas.ac.uk

Contact Tel: 0207 898 4075