In the 21st century, the United States government still grapples with the challenges of governance, mostly because of globalization and devolution. Globalization puts more pressure on the United States government to change its foreign and local policies to create an environment that fosters good relations with its partners. One of the significant challenges in governance has been to enhance efficiency in the delivery of services at the devolved units. The traditional methods of service delivery, especially bureaucracy continue to affect the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery in a significant number of public institutions. While the U.S. still faces some challenges in government, there has been a substantial improvement in the delivery of services. The current governance issues, policies, and principles are primarily affected by the contributions of persons such as Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Woodrow Wilson. The individuals had similar and different perspectives on governance, which will be highlighted in the discussion below.
Comparison and Contrast of Governance Perspectives
James Madison and Woodrow Wilson
James Madison and Woodrow Wilson shared some similarities on governance perspectives. Firstly, they both believed that good governance could only occur where there is public engagement or participation. Woodrow articulates the importance of civic involvement in government. He asserted that governments ought to allow the public to make contributions that are aimed at overcoming different challenges in governance. However, public engagement in governance appears to be a mirage. The people have been conditioned that when they elect a government, they have to wait for someone in authority to make decisions on their behalf. This, according to Woodrow, is not the best way to foster good governance, transparency, and accountability. When the public is engaged in management, it exerts pressure for the public agencies to show diligence, increase efficiency, and minimize wastage of the public resources. On his part, James Madison focused on the freedom of speech, which is a right guaranteed by the first amendment. He indicated that the right to expression should be an integral part of governance. His perspective was that an ideal government should allow the public to air their views, whether they are in favor or against the conduct of the government .
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Madison’s and Woodrow’s perspectives on governance are significant characteristics of the current government in the U.S. The U.S government has taken advantage of globalization to advance democracy in most nations. As a democracy, the U.S government protects the fundamental freedoms and rights of the citizens. Through credible and fair elections, the citizens have the right to elect leaders that will create opportunities for people to prosper. However, like many governments , the U.S still faces serious challenges as it seeks to foster the freedom of speech, issues of privacy, and the participation of the people in governance. In the wake of terrorism, there have been incidences where the government has been accused of infringing on the rights to privacy. The globalization has emerged as one of the leading challenges to the U.S perspective on governance. While the U.S is a superpower, its survival is also determined by its relations with other allied countries. Not every nation the U.S interacts with shares the same governance perspectives. For this reason, globalization has been one of the leading challenges to the U.S ability to maintain its values on democracy in other countries.
Another similarity between Madison and Woodrow was that they seemed to be inclined towards democracy. This can be inferred from their perspectives on governance. In a democracy, the public’s opinion plays an imperative role in fostering change. The rule of law in governance and the protection of the fundamental laws is also enhanced . Therefore, Madison’s and Woodrow’s perspectives on governance have helped in fostering democracy in the United States.
Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson
Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson had distinct perspectives on governance. Hamilton favored a central federal government and the weaker states. He argued that the federal government ought to use its powers to dictate to the states what they should do. To his, this the only way to overcome the conflicts arising between the federal government and the states. On the contrary, Jefferson believed in devolving powers to the states. To him, resources should also be decentralized and the states given the right to distribute them to the public depending on their needs. One of the problems with Hamilton’s perception on governance is that the challenge of inequitable distribution of resources might not be resolved . The devolution’s main aim is to enhance equitable distribution of resources and power. Local government are more in touch with the people and understand their immediate needs better. However, Hamilton’s perspective on conflicts is still credible.
In the book The Transformation of Governance: Public Administration for Twenty-First Century America Donald F. Kettl laments that one of the most significant challenges in governance today is the devolution. His thinking is that with a devolved government, enhancing the integration of functions and institutions to improve the service delivery, is an enormous challenge. Donald says that while the federal government may embrace the changes that lead to efficiency and effectiveness, the bureaucracies in most states and local governments discourage progress. Despite the challenges of conflicts and ineffectiveness in governance, the devolved kind of government is still considered ideal in addressing the lives of the people, as envisioned by Thomas Jefferson. The U.S government has embraced his principle on creation of strong state government . It has helped in the distribution of resources and in addressing challenges that are unique to particular states.
The second difference was the question of who socioeconomic status of the person to lead to the citizens. Jefferson believed that the people should rule a country , that is, the government should not have too much power. The power should rest on the public to empower them to check the government . He also emphasized that the government should be lean and made up of members of the lower class. On the contrary, Hamilton believed that the elite and wealthy people should be the ones to run the government. He insisted that the central government should wield more power to make decisions that they deem fit for the people.
Jefferson’s perspectives on leadership are a reflection of the U.S government today. Firstly, the power belongs to the people. They elect the leaders they want regardless of their economic and social backgrounds. Today, the citizens care more about the service delivery and not the class issues. The rule by the people is necessary as it checks government’s allocation and use of resources. People can also hold the government accountable and demand transparency. Hamilton’s perspective on leadership cannot survive in a democratic world. His viewpoint seems to support a dictatorial kind of government that persists in controlling the public and making a decision without engaging the people. Hamilton’s view also differs from that of Woodrow and Madison, who called for the participation of the people in governance. Insisting that people should only elect the elite and the wealth amount to denying people the right to choose leaders of their choice.
The third perspective of governance was on the interpretation of the constitution. Hamilton perspective was that of loose interpretation of the constitution. He argued that the strict interpretation would hamper the government’s efforts to function correctly. While this might be true, it is also vital to not the loose interpretation of the constitution might be abused by those in power. That explains why the independence of the judiciary is imperative. There is a need to put the executive and legislature in check. Hamilton’s assertion on the interpretation of the constitution demonstrates how he was prepared to ensure that the elite and wealth remained in power.
Jefferson’s perception was that the rule of law was vital in governance. According to him, there was a need for strict interpretation of the constitution. He said that the constitution meant what it said. This strictness in the interpretation of the constitution was necessary for instilling the discipline within the executive. It was intended to ensure that no one was above the law. Today, the United States government fosters the rule of law through adherence to the constitution. The country has continued to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms and ensuring that people get justice. However, there are still significant challenges in the enforcement of the law. Discrimination by race and economic status deny people the right to justice . As mentioned before, terrorism is a significant challenge today. It has hampered the ability of the government to protect the rights to privacy. There has not been a strict interpretation of the law on this issue, and it continues to cause friction between the public and the government. The threat of terrorism seems to justify the reason for the loose interpretation of the constitution on the right to privacy. This shows that Hamilton’s perspective on the loose interpretation of the constitution is rife. In some countries, the politicians seek to change the existing law to protect their interests. All these perspectives demonstrate how complexities in management can determine how those in power are affected by the current constitutions .
Finally, Jefferson and Hamilton looked at the issue of the economy and had a different opinion. For Hamilton, the government was supposed to shift from agricultural dependent economy to manufacturing, business, and also promote trade. On the contrary, Hamilton indicated that the government should support the farmers by enhancing the agricultural-led economy. On the economy, Hamilton seems to get it right, as his perspective is a reflection of what the United States has become. The country has invested heavily in enhancing trade both locally and internationally. It has taken advantage of globalization to enlarge the market for its goods and services. The manufacturing sector has also expanded and helps in addressing the challenge of unemployment.
In conclusion, the 21 st -century governance faces the challenge of adhering to some of the values advanced by Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Woodrow Wilson. Hamilton and Jefferson addressed questions of the constitution, the economy, and the leadership. Madison and Woodrow focused on the participation of the citizens in governance. Despite the progress made on governance, devolution and globalization continue to pose significant problems for the United States.
Bibliography
Kettl, D. The Transformation of Governance: Public Administration for Twenty-First Century America. Public Administration Review , Vol. 60, No. 6. 2000
Shafritz, M., Russell, W. & Borick, C. Introducing Public Administration , 8 th edition. Routledge. 2012.
http://www.pbs.org/jefferson
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/hamilton/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/wilson
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/hamilton
