AbstractThe vacuum left by the collapse of colonial empires has been filled by new forms of cultural and ideological imperialism conceived largely in the West. The new imperialism is evident in such notions as sustainable human development (SHD) and ‘good’ governance, which in many ways are prescribed for poor countries by rich countries. It is suggested that there is no one best way to ‘good’ governance or SHD and that, while elements of a universal best practice may be found, considerable room should be left for local var