Course Overview

Introduction to the Course Theme

Welcome to EarthTab Business School. My name is Eman Salih and I will be your course preceptor for the course Governance, Accountability And Transparency. In a world grappling with systemic corruption, institutional decay, public mistrust, and unequal power dynamics, governance, accountability, and transparency have emerged as the triple pillars of a functional, responsive, and just society. This course provides a multi-layered, critical, and interdisciplinary exploration into the systems, structures, actors, processes, instruments, principles, and philosophies that drive ethical and effective governance.

Rooted in public administration, political science, law, ethics, economics, development studies, and sociology, the course is designed to offer students and professionals an integrated understanding of how power is exercised, held to account, and made visible. It moves beyond theoretical definitions and dives into the practical, legal, digital, socio-political, and cultural dimensions of governance across democratic and authoritarian systems.

Governance: Structure, Meaning, and Practice

The course begins with an expansive engagement with the term “governance”, a concept that transcends traditional government. It explores governance as a networked process involving multiple actors: government institutions, civil society, the private sector, traditional authorities, international organizations, and increasingly, the digital public sphere.

We analyze:

• Formal governance (legal frameworks, public institutions, administrative hierarchies)
  
  

• Informal governance (elite networks, local power brokers, community structures)
  
  

• Modes of governance (hierarchical, market-based, and networked)
  
  

• Global governance systems (e.g., United Nations, Bretton Woods institutions, G20)

Key concepts include:

• Rule of law
  
  

• Separation of powers
  
  

• Institutional checks and balances
  
  

• Participation and pluralism
  
  

• Policy coherence and regulatory effectiveness
  
  

• Public interest and public value

Accountability: Theory, Mechanisms, and Practice

Accountability is dissected through its philosophical, democratic, managerial, and ethical roots. You will explore how accountability operates across levels and actors, political leaders, civil servants, law enforcement, judiciary, corporate actors, and civil society organizations.

We explore three major forms of accountability:

• Horizontal Accountability: Inter-institutional mechanisms (e.g., parliamentary oversight, anti-corruption commissions, judicial review, ombuds institutions)
  
  

• Vertical Accountability: Citizen-based mechanisms (elections, protests, civic action, petitions, voting behavior, advocacy)
  
  

• Diagonal Accountability: Hybrid models such as media investigations, social audits, public hearings, whistleblower reports

We address:

• Principles of responsiveness, answerability, and enforceability
  
  

• Ethics and integrity systems in the public sector
  
  

• Managerial and performance accountability (especially in budgeting and procurement)
  
  

• Anti-corruption instruments, including asset declaration, audit systems, and enforcement laws
  
  

• Challenges of enforcement in weak institutional environments

Case studies include:

• The fall of authoritarian regimes due to citizen accountability
  
  

• Institutional weaknesses in fragile states
  
  

• Oversight reforms in developed democracies

Transparency: Concept, Tools, and Implementation

Transparency is examined both as an ideal and a practice. We define transparency as the availability, accessibility, accuracy, and clarity of information, but move beyond to examine its purpose: to empower, inform, and enable participation and oversight.

We explore:

• Legal instruments (e.g., Freedom of Information laws, open data legislation, whistleblower protection acts)
  
  

• Technological innovations (blockchain in public finance, civic tech platforms, e-governance systems)
  
  

• Procedural transparency (open procurement, budget transparency, asset declarations)
  
  

• Social accountability tools (citizen report cards, participatory budgeting, open town halls)
  
  

• Media and investigative journalism in promoting public sector transparency

The course reflects on the paradox of transparency, where more data does not always lead to more clarity or less corruption, and explores how information asymmetry and lack of capacity hinder meaningful use of available information.

Global Perspectives, Comparative Analysis, and Contextual Dynamics

You will study how context matters in shaping governance, accountability, and transparency:

• In authoritarian regimes, we explore performative transparency and restricted civic space
  
  

• In fragile states, we consider weak institutions, conflict, and donor-dependency
  
  

• In developed democracies, we analyze institutional capture, revolving doors, lobbying, and transparency fatigue
  
  

• In developing nations, we investigate foreign aid accountability, grassroots activism, and neo-patrimonialism

Comparative country cases include:

• Botswana: As an African model of institutional integrity
  
  

• Nigeria: Challenges of anti-corruption amid elite capture
  
  

• Denmark & Sweden: Leading nations in public transparency rankings
  
  

• Brazil & India: Innovations in participatory governance and social audits

The Role of Key Actors

The course examines the interplay of actors in governance systems:

• Government agencies: policy formulation and service delivery
  
  

• Civil society: watchdogs, mobilizers, and community educators
  
  

• Media: agenda-setters and investigators
  
  

• International donors: reform agenda setters
  
  

• Citizens: rights-holders and agents of accountability
  
  

• Tech innovators: digital tools for open governance

Skills and Competencies You Will Gain

Upon completion, you will:

• Analyze governance systems critically across global and local contexts
  
  

• Evaluate accountability mechanisms and their practical applications
  
  

• Develop transparency strategies using digital and legal tools
  
  

• Assess institutional integrity using governance indicators (e.g., World Bank WGI, Transparency International CPI)
  
  

• Design reform frameworks to improve ethical leadership and service delivery
  
  

• Communicate governance concepts to multiple stakeholders effectively
  
  

• Conduct participatory and inclusive public assessments (e.g., budget tracking, scorecards)

Development Outcomes of the Course

You will emerge as change agents with tools to:

• Promote anti-corruption reforms
  
  

• Design open governance strategies
  
  

• Build performance-based accountability systems
  
  

• Influence public trust and institutional legitimacy
  
  

• Advocate for inclusive and transparent public services

This course serves not only as an academic experience but as a civic empowerment journey, transforming you into an  informed, equipped, and principled professional capable of strengthening governance from within and beyond formal institutions.

I look forward to congratulating you upon completion of this course.