Governance and Development (VJU6004)
Master’s Program in Public Policy, Vietnam Japan University (VJU)

Syllabus

SYLLABUS OF GOVERNANCE AND DEVELOPMENT

Instructors
Takaaki KOBAYASHI
Hisahiro KONDOH
Tsutomu SHIBATA
Yasutami SHIMOMURA
Visiting Lecturers
Vietnam Japan University

I. Outline of the Course


Poverty is one of the major issues in the world. To reduce poverty in
developing
countries,

countries,
local

many

people,

actors

NGOs,

(eg.

aid

governments

donor

countries,

in

developing
international

organisations, etc.) have engaged in various development policies.


It is said that these stakeholders are required to democratically participate
in public policy-process. Governance, beyond government, should be ‘good’
to promote development. Such a ‘good governance’ is argued as the
precondition for achieving development.



How and why governance may relate with development process? What
policy is advocated for good governance? How has the international
community been leading the discourse of governance? Could we find

problems in good governance and alternatives?



This course is designed for those who seek to understand the governance
and development both in theoretical and empirical terms.

1/9


Governance and Development (VJU6004)
Master’s Program in Public Policy, Vietnam Japan University (VJU)

Syllabus

II. Objectives of the Course


Through the combination of various teaching formats of systematically
organised lectures, discussions and workshops, students are expected to
grasp broad outline and issues of governance and development.



Through the understanding theoretical aspects and policy dimensions of
governance and development, students are expected to broaden their
perspectives

on


governance,

politics

and

development.

Particularly,

students are expected to:
1.

understand

potential

relationship

between

governance

and

development performance;
2.

critically


grasp

key

issues

such

as

good

governance

including

bureaucracy, democracy, participation, and civil society; and
3.

develop their own constructive views how governance in developing
countries could promote their development.



This course is taught jointly by Japanese and Vietnamese instructors.
Vietnamese staff members are expected to contextualise theoretical and
policy aspects to Vietnamese perspectives.

III. Suggested Readings



See ‘Schedule of the Course’ as below.

IV. Schedule of the Course (The underlined are essential readings)
PART I: Theories and Policy Dimensions of Governance:
Mainstream Understandings on Governance
By Takaaki Kobayashi & Hisahiro Kondoh (7 classes)
- DAY ONE (KONDOH Hisahiro)
1.

Introduction

Topics:
・

Course outline

・

Assignment

・

Assessment

・

About workshops

2/9



Governance and Development (VJU6004)
Master’s Program in Public Policy, Vietnam Japan University (VJU)

・

Syllabus

Questionnaire

- DAY TWO (KONDOH Hisahiro)
2.

Theory of Governance: Why and how does it matter with development?

Topics:
・

What is governance? What is good governance?

・

How may governance or good governance relate with development?

・

Is there any alternative to good governance?

Readings:

・

Grindle, Merilee S. (2005), ‘Good Enough Governance Revisited’, A
Report for DFID with reference to the Governance Target Strategy Paper.

・

Pierre, Jon et al. (2000), Governance, Politics and the State, Basingstoke:
Macmillan (Introduction and Chapter 3).

3.

Policy of Government-building

Topics:
・

How have roles of the government in development process evolved?

・

What are problems of government bureaucracy?

・

How could these problems be addressed to build the good government?

Reading:
・


Turner,

Mark

et

al.

(1997),

Governance,

Administration

and

Development: Making the State Work, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
- DAY THREE (KONDOH Hisahiro)
4.

Policy of Governance-building I (Civil Society)
・

What is civil society? Can civil society be an alternative to incapable
government?

Readings:
・

Turner,


Mark

et

al.

(1997),

Governance,

Administration

Development: Making the State Work, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
5.

Policy of Governance-building II (Democratisation)

Topics:

3/9

and


Governance and Development (VJU6004)
Master’s Program in Public Policy, Vietnam Japan University (VJU)

・


Syllabus

What are potentials and risks of democratisation in developing
countries?

Reading:
・

Diamond, Larry (1999), Developing Democracy: Toward Consolidation,
Baltimore, MA: Johns Hopkins University Press.

- DAY FOUR (KONDOH Hisahiro)
6.

Workshop I: Governance building in Conflict Country (Preparation)

7.

Workshop II: Governance building in Conflict Country (Role-Playing)

- DAY FIVE (KOBAYASHI Takaaki)
8.

International Discourses on Nexus between Governance and Development
・

Governance as the solution for Development

・


Varieties of Governance

・

Ideal Model of Development trough Governance

References:
・

The World Bank (1997) World Development Report 1997: The State in a
Changing World.

・

UNDP (2002) Human Development Report 2002: Deepening democracy
in a fragmented world. Oxford University Press.

9.

Real Mechanism of Development through Good Governance
・

Role of market

・

Role of Government

・


Case of Japan

・

Real paths of several countries

References:
・

North, Douglass C (1990) Institutions, institutional change and economic
performance, Cambridge University Press.

・

De Soto, Herndo (2000) The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism
Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else, Basic Books.

・

Acemoglu, Daron and James Robinson (2013) Why Nations Fail: The

4/9


Governance and Development (VJU6004)
Master’s Program in Public Policy, Vietnam Japan University (VJU)

Syllabus

Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty, Crown Business.

・

Chang, Ha-Joon (2002) Kicking Away the Ladder: Development Strategy
in Historical Perspective, Anthem Pr.

- DAY SIX (KOBAYASHI Takaaki)
10. Good Way to Improve Governance
・

Group Presentation: How governance reforms could be supported by
external donors?

PART II: Alternative Perspectives Based on the Asian Development Experiences
By Yasutami Shimomura (4 classes)
1. The Nature of the Problem: To what extent can the standard theory of
governance explain the realities?
Topics
Correlation between good governance and better development
Causalities between improved governance and better development
A Puzzle: How does the theory of good governance explain the East Asia’s
remarkable achievement?
[Group discussion]
References
Kaufmann, Daniel, Aart Kraay, and Pablo Zoido-Lobaton (2002), Governance
Matters II Updated Indicators for 2000-01, World Bank Policy Research Paper
2772, February 2002
Kaufmann, Daniel, Aart Kraay, and Massimo Mastruzzi (2010),

The


Worldwide governance Indicators: Methodology and Analytical Issues, World
Bank Policy Research Paper, September 2010
OECD (1991), Development Co-Operation
Przeworski, Asam and Fernando Limongi (1993), “Political Regimes and
Economic Growth”, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol.7, No. 3, Summer
1993, pp.59-61
2. East Asian economies as ‘irregularities’

5/9


Governance and Development (VJU6004)
Master’s Program in Public Policy, Vietnam Japan University (VJU)

Syllabus

Topics
Combination of inferior governance indicators and excellent development
performance in East Asia
How do these irregularities offer hints for a better theory of governance?
[Group discussion]
References
Shimomura, Yasutami (2005), The Role of Governance in Development
Revisited: A

Proposal

of an

Alternative


View, Discussion Paper

on

Development Assistance No.5, FASID, March 2005
3. Alternative perspectives of good governance
Topics
‘Good Enough Governance’ agenda
Hypothesis of ‘strategic’ governance element
Enhancing strength rather than correcting weakness
Utilizing ‘endogenous and informal institution’
[Group discussion]
References
Grindle, Merilees (2004), “Good Enough Governance: Poverty Reduction and
Reform in Developing Countries”, Governance: An International Journal of
Policy, Administration, and Institutions, Vol.17, No.4, October 2004, pp.525548
Shimomura ibid
4. Country cases: China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam
Topics
How to identify the strength in the basically mediocre governance indices?
The relationship among the rise of middle class, democratization, and
development
[Group discussion]
References
Fukuyama, Francis (2012), “The Future of History: Can Liberal Democracy
Survive the Decline of the Middle Class?”, Foreign Affairs, January/February

6/9



Governance and Development (VJU6004)
Master’s Program in Public Policy, Vietnam Japan University (VJU)

Syllabus

2012
Shimomura, Yasutami eds. (2003), The Role of Governance in Asia, Institute
of Southeast Asian Studies

PART III: Issues of Development Finance & Development Banks in Emerging
Economies
By Tsutomu Shibata (4 classes)
1.

2.

Bank versus Capital market Issues


Ideas of Greenspan



Ideas of Stiglitz



My comments


Policy-based development finance
2.1 Facilities in Japan for development finance
・

Fiscal Investment and loan program (FILP)

・

Industrial Policy : a nation’s policy targeted specifically at industry

・

Government Financial Institutions (chart)

・

Policy based finance

2-2.Development Banks

3.

4.

・

Development Banks in General

・


Development Bank in Japan

Japan Development Bank


Reconstruction Finance Bank (predecessor)



1945 to the mid-1960’ (joined developed countries in 1964)



After the mid-1960

Japan’s Assistance to development banks in Asian countries


Vietnam



China



Mongolia

V. Handouts



Handout for lectures is distributed.

7/9


Governance and Development (VJU6004)
Master’s Program in Public Policy, Vietnam Japan University (VJU)

Syllabus

VI. Prerequisite


None (Keen interests in development are desirable).

VII. Assessment


Participation 40% (performance at group discussions and attendance),
Essay 60% (Structure and style 20%, Logic 20%, Source 10%, Originality
10%).



Attendance at lectures, discussions and workshops is compulsory for at
least 60% of 30 hours.




Preparation for discussions and workshop is also compulsory.



A single essay is required maximum 2,500 words in English (including cover
sheet, references, notes, tables and figures). Cover sheet should include
your name, chosen essay question number, essay title, and word-count.
Essay should be typed by word-processor in English (No hand-writing
accepted). Essay should be directly sent by e-mail to all instructors (on MSWord format, not PDF format). Deadline is two weeks after the final class.
Extensions will only be granted if supported by a medical certificate.



Essay questions: Answer one of the questions below.
1.

How could, or could not, the government problems be addressed by
building good governance? (from the classes by Kondoh)

2.

How could governance reforms be supported by external donors? (from
the classes by Kobayashi)

3.

Read Francis Fukuyama’s “The Future of History”, and discuss how
would, or would not, middle class contribute to democratization in
Vietnam,


taking

into

consideration

the

experiences

of

Thailand/Indonesia and China? (from the classes by Shimomura)
4.

What would be crucial factors to ensure the success of policy based
finance implemented by development bank type organizations in the
Vietnamese context? (from the classes by Shibata)



A good essay should be based on the standard format of academic writing.
1.

It should have a standard structure of (1) introduction, (2) main
chapters, (3) conclusions, (4) references and (5) notes;

2.

You need to answer to the questions. Before your submission, you need

to ask yourself what are your answers to the selected question.

3.

Analysis and argument is necessary rather than description.

8/9


Governance and Development (VJU6004)
Master’s Program in Public Policy, Vietnam Japan University (VJU)

4.

Syllabus

Originality and critical analysis is a part of good essay.

VIII. Contact Address


Takaaki KOBAYASHI
Address: Associate Professor, Graduate School of International Social
Sciences, Yokohama National University
79-4 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501 JAPAN
E-mail:



KONDOH Hisahiro

Address: Professor, Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences,
Saitama University
255 Shimo-Okubo, Sakura-ku, Saitama City, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
E-mail:



Tsutomu SHIBATA
Address: Chief Consultant, Japan Economic Research Institute
1-9-2 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004, Japan
E-mail:



Yasutami SHIMOMURA
Address: Professor Emeritus, Hosei University, 1-2-43, Sakura-cho,
Koganei city,
Tokyo, 184-0005 Japan
E-mail:

9/9