From Bureaucracy to Agility: Tracing the Changing Paradigms of Good Governance in the 21st Century

By : Rahul Tripathi, Avinash Kumar

Page No: 225-233

Abstract
Over the last several decades, the concept of good governance has undergone a profound evolution, shifting from a rigid, rule-bound bureaucracy to one that prizes adaptability, multiparty collaboration, and the capacity to harness innovation. This essay identifies the driving forces behind this shift: the heightened expectations of citizens, the widespread adoption of digital technologies, the forces of globalisation, and the complex, interdependent challenges that characterise the twenty-first century. Through a lens centred on responsiveness, participatory inclusivity, and analytical evidence, the authors interrogate the emergence and diffusion of governance architectures labelled collaborative, agile, and dynamic. The analysis broadens to consider how the normative principles that once anchored the public sector are now migrating into universities, non-profits, and corporate governance, reshaping practices and cultures. The argument culminates in a call to reformulate the meaning of governance itself, centred on anticipatory systemic thinking, design that prioritises citizen experience, and a comparative synthesis of global case evidence. Drawing on frameworks from complexity theory, contemporaneous policy materials, and trans-sectoral partnerships, the conclusions intend to enrich ongoing debates about how to recalibrate public institutions so that they cultivate resilience, responsiveness, and legitimacy in a world marked by escalating uncertainty.

Authors
Rahul Tripathi, Professor and Director, Amity School of Liberal Arts, Amity University Rajasthan, India.
Avinash Kumar, Assistant Professor, Amity School of Liberal Arts, Amity University Rajasthan, India.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/PROD.2025.66.03.02