Decentralization, Democratic Governance, and Civil Society in Comparative Perspective : Africa, Asia, and Latin America

by Oxhorn, Philip; Tulchin, Joseph S.; Selee, Andrew D.

• ISBN13: 9780801879197
• ISBN10: 0801879191
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-05-19
• Publisher: Johns Hopkins Univ Pr

Summary

Decentralization, Democratic Governance, and Civil Society in Comparative Perspective studies the relation of decentralization to democratization at both intermediate and local levels and analyzes how decentralization is transforming the relationship between the state and civil society. This book presents case studies from six countries in three continents in which decentralization of some parts of government has been attempted: Mexico, Chile, South Africa, Kenya, the Philippines, and Indonesia. The work surveys a range of issues in decentralization: which actors in each country have been most responsible for initiating and sustaining decentralization; how much decentralization to regional and local authorities has transformed the state; and whether stronger local governments produce greater accountability to citizens. The final chapter by Tulchin and Selee draws conclusions on these issues based on the case studies, while the introduction by Philip Oxhorn lays a theoretical foundation for understanding the relationship between decentralization and democracy.

Author Biography

Philip Oxhorn is a professor of political science and associate dean at McGill University. Joseph S. Tulchin is director of the Latin American Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and Andrew D. Selee is director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Joseph S. Tulchin
Andrew D. Selee
Introduction
Unraveling the Puzzle of Decentralization	3	(30)
Philip Oxhorn
Part I. Latin America
Twenty Years of Decentralization in Mexico: A Top-Down Process	33	(26)
Yemile Mizrahi
Decentralization and Civil Society in Mexico	59	(23)
Leticia Santin del Rio
State Decentralization and Regional Actors in Chile	82	(37)
Claudia Serrano
Local Governance and Democratization: The View from the Chilean Border	119	(22)
Maria Elena Ducci
Part II. Africa
South Africa's Double Reform: Decentralization and the Transition from Apartheid	141	(49)
Steven Friedman
Caroline Kihato
Kenya's Decentralization through the Devolution of Power: Advances and Limits	190	(21)
Gilbert M. Khadiagala
Winnie V. Mitullah
Part III. Asia
The Philippines: Decentralization, Local Governments, and Citizen Action	211	(55)
Leonora C. Angeles
Francisco A. Magno
Decentralization and Regional Autonomy in Indonesia	266	(29)
Syarif Hidayat
Hans Antlov
Conclusion
Decentralization and Democratic Governance: Lessons and Challenges	295	(26)
Andrew D. Selee
Joseph S. Tulchin
Selected Bibliographies: General and Regional	321	(14)
Contributors	335	(2)
Index	337