Reform refers to the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.
The modern usage of the word emerged in the late 18th century and is believed to have originated from
Christopher Wyvill's
Association movement, which identified "Parliamentary Reform" as its primary aim. Reform is generally regarded as antithetical to
revolution.
Developing countries may implement a range of reforms to improve living standards, often with support from
international financial institutions and
aid agencies. This can involve reforms to
macroeconomic policy, the
civil service, and
public financial management.
In politics, there is debate over what constitutes reform vs. revolution, and whether all changes labeled "reform" actually represent progress. For example, in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, proponents of
term limits or
rotation in office consider it a revolutionary method (advocated as early as the
Articles of Confederation) for rooting out government corruption by altering basic political connections between incumbents and constituents. Opponents say that congressional term limits can create perverse incentives, and hinder reform, by taking power away from voters and encouraging "
revolving door" politics.
A government's ability to implement reforms, referred to as its
state capacity
State capacity is the ability of a government to accomplish policy goals, either generally or in reference to specific aims. More narrowly, state capacity often refers to the ability of a state to collect taxes, enforce law and order, and provide p ...
, is constrained by the prevailing political system.
Re-form
When used to describe something which is physically formed again, such as re-
casting (
moulding) or a
band that gets back together, the proper term is ''re-form'' (with a
hyphen), not "reform".
See also
*
Catalytic reforming
*
Education reform
*
Electoral reform
*
Land reform
*
Microeconomic reform
*
Monetary reform
*
Progressivism
Progressivism is a Left-right political spectrum, left-leaning political philosophy and Reformism, reform political movement, movement that seeks to advance the human condition through social reform. Adherents hold that progressivism has unive ...
*
Reform (Religion)
*
Reform movement
*
La Reforma
*
Reformism
*
Security sector governance and reform
*
Tax reform
*
University reform
*
Wall Street reform
Notes
References
Further reading
*
* Harrington, Mona. ''The Dream of Deliverance in American Politics''. New York: A.A. Knopf, 1986. x, 308 p.
{{Authority control
18th-century neologisms