Monday Edition — Governments That Work
Governments That Work
The headlines are full of failure.
The American government has failed and is in the early stages of dictatorship. In Europe, right-wing movements spread from Hungary to France, putting European liberalism in question. Turkey’s economy slides deeper into crisis as its leadership grows more authoritarian. Belarus has fallen. In Britain, dysfunction has become routine.
But these headlines tell only one side of the story.
Far from the spotlight, some governments are working, and working quite well, you might even say they are excelling. They’re building infrastructure, expanding healthcare, improving education, and balancing budgets. They don’t make the front pages because good news does not sell advertising space. Yet there are governments, many governments that are actually working. It’s not only that these governments are functioning, but many continue to get better, consistently improving the lives of their citizens.
This week, we’ll look at four of them.
Rwanda, destroyed by genocide, is now one of Africa’s most organized and forward-looking states.
Botswana has turned diamond wealth into schools, hospitals, and long-term stability, an African democracy that still functions after fifty years.
Uruguay, a nation of just three million, delivers social welfare, renewable energy, and political calm while others in the region swing between extremes.
Singapore, governed by technocrats rather than populists, ranks among the cleanest, safest, and best-educated societies in the world.
These governments differ in system and structure: some centralized, others parliamentary or social democratic. What unites them is that they are inclusive rather than extractive. They provide for their citizens rather than take from them. They set priorities and follow through. They reward competence, not popularity. They measure success by results rather than ideology,
Each also reflects their cultural perspective.
Rwanda’s emphasis on order and collective effort comes from a deep belief in unity after tragedy. (High collectivism and harmony orientation, low individualism — Hofstede, Schwartz). Its leadership reflects the North (Power-Seeker) archetype in its focus on authority, planning, and national control, supported by the Blue (Guardian) archetype’s moral discipline and duty to protect stability.
Singapore’s strict but trusted governance mirrors a society that values discipline and harmony. (High power distance, high uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation — Hofstede and Trompenaars). It expresses the West (Sage) archetype through its data-driven, knowledge-based decision-making, reinforced by the Blue (Guardian) archetype’s structured and rule-bound sense of duty.
Botswana’s stability draws on traditional consensus-building and civic responsibility. (Communitarianism and neutral emotional expression — Trompenaars; moderate power distance — Hofstede). Its governance aligns with the East (Communicator) archetype, facilitating dialogue and inclusion, complemented by the Green (Caregiver) archetype’s empathy and social concern for community well-being.
Uruguay’s social protections grow from an egalitarian culture that prizes fairness over ambition. (Low power distance, high nurturance orientation, and embeddedness — Hofstede and Schwartz). Its policies reflect the West (Sage) archetype in balanced, reasoned reform, paired with the Green (Caregiver) archetype’s focus on compassion and equality.
Each of these nations comes from a different cultural perspective. What unites them is that their governments fit their cultures. Their institutions reflect how people expect leadership to act and for decisions to be made. In each culture, culture reinforces stability instead of division. Authority earns respect by delivering results, and citizens cooperate because progress is visible. Cultural alignment turns governance into a partnership rather than control.
None of these nations are perfect. But each shows what is possible when government aligns with the cultural perspective, when it is inclusive rather than extractive.
As some of the world’s powers move toward authoritarianism, extraction, and dysfunction, these smaller nations remind us that good government still exists. More importantly, that government can change for the better.
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