JICA-RI Research Fellow Contributes a Paper to the Book on Governance Theories in Development Strategies for Developing Nations

Research Fellow Hiroaki Shiga contributed a paper to the book entitled Dimensions of Development Politics: Governance in Development Strategies for Developing Nations published by Keiso Shobo. The book discusses “good governance” from multi-faceted perspectives, looking at how the theories and policies have developed over the concept of good governance which has played a central role in international aid trend since the 2000s.

Shiga writes Chapter 5 under the title of “Why Is Establishing the Rule of Law Difficult?: The Political Nature of Its Establishment Process” in Part II “Development and the State.” In this chapter, Shiga expresses his doubts about the widespread idea that “Rule of Law” is a non-ideological, apolitical and technical “silver bullet” for various challenges such as economic development, poverty reduction, democratization, and deterrence of conflict. He argues that “Rule of Law” pursues two conflicting objectives: aiming to strengthen the state power that establishes and enforces the law; and deterring its arbitrary behavior. Shiga points out that the process of establishing “Rule of Law” inevitably ends up being political where various actors’ interests are intertwined, and that the successful creation of “Rule of Law” requires understanding the behavior and motives of the stakeholders who are involved in the establishment process.