An exploration of the implications of the 'good governance' agendas for developing and newly democratized countries. The book first assesses each item on the 'good governance' agenda for its contribution to development and the cost to society of bad governance. It secondly examines the view of the international development agencies on each dimension of governance. Thirdly it specifies the contribution political science can make to an understanding of each dimension of governance, both in respect of the actions undertaken by aid agencies and recipient governments, and of those aspects of political reform which fall beyond the scope of foreign intervention.