Can governance be privatised?
Al Jazeera
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Can governance be privatised? This question challenges traditional notions of state authority by exploring whether essential governmental functions—such as security, infrastructure development, education, and healthcare—can be effectively managed by private entities or entirely independent cities. While some services have been outsourced to private companies, the core responsibilities of governance remain complex and inherently tied to public trust and accountability. Privatisation of governance raises significant concerns about inequality, loss of democratic oversight, and potential power imbalances, as private interests may prioritize profit over public welfare.
Historically, attempts to privatise governance have varied in success. For instance, medieval city-states sometimes delegated certain administrative tasks to merchant guilds or religious institutions. In modern times, experiments like the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in China and Singapore’s strict governance model have shown how private enterprise can complement public structures without fully replacing them. More recently, the rise of “private cities”
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/24/2026