the Department of State , Department of Defense and USAID . None of them have gained enough traction to take on the mantle of a new strategic directive , and few of them are substantially connected to other programs conducted outside of their own offices ’ mandates . 56 This presents both opportunities and risks . The lack of an overarching institutional directive can open the door for paradigm shifts that will improve future operations and policy — but the retention of common operational features such as technocracy and checklist mentalities can still hold back productive shifts .
What is good governance ?
Good governance lacks a single , unified definition . The most common conception among the nations of the West is that of liberal democracy — most simply , “ a democracy based on the recognition of individual rights and freedoms , in which decisions from direct or representative processes prevail in many policy areas .” 57 This is a way of saying that in such a government , transparency , accountability and public input from civil society are critical to the perception of legitimate authority .
Good governance also suggests Isaiah Berlin ’ s idea of the balance of freedom from , and freedom to — as he put it , positive and negative freedom 58 — both of which are requirements . The former defines our ability to make choices without outside constraint , such as President Roosevelt ’ s freedom from want and freedom from fear . 59 The latter adds a dimension , defining our ability to make choices free from internal constraint — the chains we impose upon ourselves based on class or education .
40