For the past several decades, governments, multilateral institutions, international NGOs, and many in the academic community have operated with some doubtful assumptions about ‘good governance’. The first is that all good things go together: hence if one is able to promote good governance, one is simultaneously able to promote both democracy and development, and vice-versa. Another is that civil society plays a key role in bringing about these positive changes. Civil society is viewed as a major force in the fight against corruption, the promotion of good governance, and the consolidation of democratic regimes. Good governance is also promoted by reforms that aim to strengthen political society in ways that are said to improve the quality of democracy.