Contributions of the Theory and Praxis for the New Governance

It has been repeatedly claimed that "good governance" is the key to eradicate poverty and to promote development. Nevertheless, it is not clear what the concept of good or democratic governance means. To consider the theoretical and practical limitations and possibilities of this concept represent an opportunity to rethink our own realities and to learn from the emergent forms of governance that are inherent to Latin America, its deep processes of change and its conflicts.

Theory has been, and is, insufficient to grasp the complexity of praxis; nevertheless, it is extremely useful as an analytical exercise to approach this complexity. On the other hand, praxis provides the raw material for building theory, and is its field of validation. This document aims at presenting a, non-exhaustive, revision of the different uses and meanings of the concept of governance, as well as of several research and intervention projects aiming at promoting and enhancing "good governance" -theory and praxis-; in order to identify some existing gaps and emerging questions. The final intention, it is to contribute to the debate on the values and actions supporting socio-political processes of change in Latin America, in particular, the processes of democratization and decentralization.

A basic assumption orienting this study is that interactions among political actors, and their interests, are an expression of the quality of the political regime, that impact the quality of life of the system as a whole and of each individual in it.