The semantics of governance: The common thread running through corporate, public, and global governance

Abstract

This paper argues that the semantics of governance illustrates connections and provides a unifying view from which to understand much better its natural branches: corporate, public and global governance. In this regard, governance is presented from the point of view of a distinctive field of learning and practice. Three levels of analysis are carried out to drive the subject home. The first one highlights the scope of corporate governance within an institutional framework. The second frames the notion of public governance, giving heed not only to the linkage among constituents, charters, representation and the fiduciary role, but also problems raised by accountability, voting rights, and the codes of good practices. The third level leads to the semantics of global governance.