Good Governance and Conflict Transformation in Sri Lanka : A Political Analysis of People's Perceptions of Institutions at the Local Level and the Challenges of Decentralised Governance
type: CreativeWork
description: This empirical study on good governance and conflict transformation in Sri Lanka is located within the larger scholarly discourse on good governance as a solution to conflict in developing societies. Sri Lanka is one of the oldest post-colonial democratic systems among the states of the South and has experienced various elections and changes of government between 1947 and 2001. This speaks to a certain extent for consolidation of democracy. However, Sri Lanka suffers under one of the most protracted civil wars in the world, which raises critical questions about the functioning of the democratic institutions and the governance system. The starting point of the thesis is the lack of empirical data, which is necessary to provide more rigorous knowledge on governance in different countries. Most available data sources use fact-based data only, without consideration of perception-based data of local stakeholders. The assumption of this thesis is that the international discourse on good governance requires context-specific testing and the redefinition of international good governance indicators, based on perceptions of local stakeholders. In this study a context-specific good governance model for Sri Lanka is developed, based on the prescriptive definition of citizens and stakeholders of what good governance should be and their assessment of what local governance actually is. Chapter two poses the main research question, which is, “what are the key actors, issues and challenges at the local level that a context-specific good governance model needs to take into account in order to promote sustainable development and peaceful co-existence?” This research question is elaborated on the basis of empirical case studies conducted at the local level in three regions of Sri Lanka. Chapter three specifies the political and historical context of Sri Lanka and explains how the processes of devolution of power and political mobilisation on ethnic lines have intersected, stymieing the …
abstract: This empirical study on good governance and conflict transformation in Sri Lanka is located within the larger scholarly discourse on good governance as a solution to conflict in developing societies. Sri Lanka is one of the oldest post-colonial democratic systems among the states of the South and has experienced various elections and changes of government between 1947 and 2001. This speaks to a certain extent for consolidation of democracy. However, Sri Lanka suffers under one of the most protracted civil wars in the world, which raises critical questions about the functioning of the democratic institutions and the governance system. The starting point of the thesis is the lack of empirical data, which is necessary to provide more rigorous knowledge on governance in different countries. Most available data sources use fact-based data only, without consideration of perception-based data of local stakeholders. The assumption of this thesis is that the international discourse on good governance requires context-specific testing and the redefinition of international good governance indicators, based on perceptions of local stakeholders. In this study a context-specific good governance model for Sri Lanka is developed, based on the prescriptive definition of citizens and stakeholders of what good governance should be and their assessment of what local governance actually is. Chapter two poses the main research question, which is, “what are the key actors, issues and challenges at the local level that a context-specific good governance model needs to take into account in order to promote sustainable development and peaceful co-existence?” This research question is elaborated on the basis of empirical case studies conducted at the local level in three regions of Sri Lanka. Chapter three specifies the political and historical context of Sri Lanka and explains how the processes of devolution of power and political mobilisation on ethnic lines have intersected, stymieing the …
author: Bigdon, Christine
date published: 2006-07-03
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:30:41Z
provider: Universität Heidelberg
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Universität Heidelberg