FROM GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNANCE: PUBLIC MANAGEMENT IN THE ASIA·PACIFIC REGION

This article analyzes the significant paradigm shift in public management from "government" to "governance" in the Asia-Pacific region. It explains the conceptual distinction between the two, with "government" referring to the formal institutions of the state, and "governance" referring to the broader process of steering society, which involves a wide range of state and non-state actors. The study explores the key drivers of this shift, including the rise of neo-liberalism, the pressures of globalization, and the growing role of civil society and the private sector. The research examines how this new model of governance was being implemented in the region through policies such as privatization, deregulation, and the creation of public-private partnerships. The paper argues that the shift from government to governance represents a fundamental rethinking of the role of the state. The analysis concludes by assessing the implications of this paradigm shift for accountability, equity, and the quality of democracy in the Asia-Pacific region.

The late 20th century witnessed a profound transformation in the theory and practice of public management, often summarized as a shift "from government to governance." This paper provides a detailed analysis of this paradigm shift and its manifestation in the Asia-Pacific region. The study begins with a conceptual clarification, defining "governance" as a more encompassing concept than "government." It emphasizes that under the governance model, the state is no longer seen as the sole provider of public services but as an enabler and a partner that steers and coordinates a network of diverse actors, including the private sector and non-governmental organizations. The core of the article is an examination of the key policy trends that are associated with this shift in the Asia-Pacific. This includes the widespread adoption of "New Public Management" (NPM) techniques, which seek to introduce private sector principles like efficiency and competition into the public sector. The paper analyzes the extensive privatization of state-owned enterprises and the growing use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to deliver infrastructure and social services. The findings suggest that this shift has had a mixed and often-controversial impact. While it has, in some cases, led to greater efficiency, it has also raised serious concerns about equity and accountability. The paper concludes that the move from government to governance is a complex and ongoing process, and its ultimate success will depend on the ability to create new mechanisms of democratic accountability for the increasingly complex networks of public, private, and civil society actors that now shape public life.