The term is used extensively and in many contexts, but there is not a full consensus on
what it entails. The term has become especially important after the end of the cold
war, when its usage was revitalized by large donor agencies (the World Bank, IMF,
etc.), who began basing decisions and evaluations regarding developing countries and
countries of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, among other things, on
indicators, related to governance.
Governance refers to the lateral and inter-institutional relations in administration in the