Series
Public Governance
A series on public institutions, participation, service delivery, and the practical disciplines required for democratic governance.
Articles in this series
Part 1
Participation as a Governance Discipline
Creating Space for Public Participation in Democratic Governance By Dr Riaan Steenberg Public participation fails when it is treated as an event. A meeting is called. A register is signed. A presentation is delivered. A few people speak….
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Delivery as the Test of the Developmental State
The Developmental State and Service Delivery By Dr Riaan Steenberg A developmental state is judged twice. It is judged by the ambition of its agenda and by the reliability of its delivery. The first judgement is political and…
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Narrative, Agency, and South African Renewal
Rewriting South Africa’s National Narrative By Dr Riaan Steenberg A country is partly governed by the story it tells about itself. If the story is too thin, too bitter, or too passive, it quietly shapes what citizens and…
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Memory Without Historical Paralysis
Stuck in History By Dr Riaan Steenberg History can teach, warn, and dignify. It can also trap. A society becomes stuck in history when memory stops producing responsibility and starts producing paralysis. Memory Is Necessary No country should…
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How Public Stories Trap Nations
How Nations Get Stuck in History By Dr Riaan Steenberg Nations get stuck in history when public life becomes more committed to rehearsing old injuries than solving present problems. This is understandable, but dangerous. Institutions Repeat Stories Schools,…
Read articleSeries articles use the standard post format and remain collected here as a guided reading path.