SOME CRITICAL NOTES ON “GOVERNANCE” William Walters Loong used as a synonym for “government,” the word “governance” has, in the last 10 yeas of so, been given a neve theoretical status and centrality within political studies." A growing body of work whose concern isco chart the transformation of political order is taking shape under che rubric of gov- ermance: A its core this govemance ot “new” governance literature suggests that the nature of political rule as changed quite fundamentally. Contrary to those whe once called for political stadies to “bring back the state.” research on governance is keptical about the conceptual centrality and valid ity ofthe state4 Theorists of governance argue that the age when the state monopolized and was synonymous with governance is passing, the image of authority lowing from a fixed, instivutional centre outmoded, Instead they insist we inhabic a world characerized by governance. As societies have become more comples, and social demands have protferated, polit cal authority hs become polycentric and mukileveled. Rule operates not cover but in a complex telationship with a dense field of public and private actors. Lines berween public and private have become blurred, Given the prominence of governance and its growing use in policy circles, itis surprising that the critical literature in this area is not more extensive. There is a striking imbalance berween the exponential growth ofa literature applying governance to particular cases and areas, and research that citically eramines the foundational assumptions and politcal impli- cations of governance. There have certainly been a number of helpful overviews of governance which have ought to clarify many of ts ambigu- ities, For instance, these have surveyed diferent uses of governance, such as “corporate governance” and governance as “new public management,” and Studies in Paltical Economy 73. SPRING/SUMMER 2004 7