Theories and Concepts of Theories and Concepts of Local GovernmentLocal Government

Presented by Presented by

Dr. AMM Shawkat AliDr. AMM Shawkat Ali

Local government is one of the means to achieve the ends Local government is one of the means to achieve the ends of decentralization.of decentralization.

It is thus linked to the broad concept and practice of It is thus linked to the broad concept and practice of decentralization.decentralization.

The concept is also based on devolution of legal authority The concept is also based on devolution of legal authority on territorial basis. It may also include exercise of on territorial basis. It may also include exercise of administrative functions.administrative functions.

The above is rooted in the premise that not everything can The above is rooted in the premise that not everything can or should be done from the centre. The rationale for such a or should be done from the centre. The rationale for such a belief appears to be, apart from practical difficulties of belief appears to be, apart from practical difficulties of governance in far flung areas, it is necessary and desirable governance in far flung areas, it is necessary and desirable to ensure participation of local people through institutions to ensure participation of local people through institutions in the process of governance. in the process of governance.

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Typologies of territorial sharing of power in most countries depends on Typologies of territorial sharing of power in most countries depends on the structure of central government. Broadly, the structure may either the structure of central government. Broadly, the structure may either be federal or unitary or a mixture of both. USA and India are examples of be federal or unitary or a mixture of both. USA and India are examples of federal structure.federal structure.

Under this structure, the constituent states form part of the federal or Under this structure, the constituent states form part of the federal or central government. At the same time, the states have separate central government. At the same time, the states have separate legislatures that form the centre of governance. These are not called legislatures that form the centre of governance. These are not called local governments but are known as state governments.local governments but are known as state governments.

The sharing of responsibilities and authority for local governance are The sharing of responsibilities and authority for local governance are broadly defined in the constitutions of a given country.broadly defined in the constitutions of a given country.

Below the state governments lie the local government. They are Below the state governments lie the local government. They are generally elected councils that perform wide range of functions. The generally elected councils that perform wide range of functions. The degree of autonomy enjoyed by the local governments depends on the degree of autonomy enjoyed by the local governments depends on the country’s heritage, administrative and political development. Generally, country’s heritage, administrative and political development. Generally, it can be said that in developed countries local governments enjoy lot of it can be said that in developed countries local governments enjoy lot of autonomy. The local governments also enjoy powers of taxation in autonomy. The local governments also enjoy powers of taxation in specific fields. specific fields.

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Theories of decentralizationTheories of decentralization

The interpretations of decentralization discussed are those The interpretations of decentralization discussed are those

of Fesler, Conyers and Rondinelli. Fesler views of Fesler, Conyers and Rondinelli. Fesler views

decentralization as a complex issue, both as a concept and decentralization as a complex issue, both as a concept and

in practice; he looks at it from four perspectives: in practice; he looks at it from four perspectives:

decentralization as a doctrine, as political process in a given decentralization as a doctrine, as political process in a given

political setting, as an administrative problem, and finally as political setting, as an administrative problem, and finally as

an administrative process involving forced choices and an administrative process involving forced choices and

changes in the function and area-based administration, and changes in the function and area-based administration, and

between the regulatory (law and order) and development between the regulatory (law and order) and development

functions of appointed and elected officials. functions of appointed and elected officials.

Conyers, like Fesler, notes that discussion on decentralization Conyers, like Fesler, notes that discussion on decentralization

can easily become confused because of analytical problems can easily become confused because of analytical problems

surrounding the concept of decentralization. Conyers accepts surrounding the concept of decentralization. Conyers accepts

the definition of decentralization by Rondinelli, that is, as the the definition of decentralization by Rondinelli, that is, as the

transfer of “authority to plan, make decisions and manage transfer of “authority to plan, make decisions and manage

public functions” from the national level to any individual, public functions” from the national level to any individual,

organization, or agency at the sub-national level. It is at the organization, or agency at the sub-national level. It is at the

same time pointed out by Conyers that the definition limits same time pointed out by Conyers that the definition limits

attention to “territorial” as opposed to “functional” attention to “territorial” as opposed to “functional”

decentralization. It excludes the question of transfer of decentralization. It excludes the question of transfer of

authority from central to peripheral organizations at the authority from central to peripheral organizations at the

national level, for example from a government department to a national level, for example from a government department to a

parastatal agency.parastatal agency.

On the question of the relationship between centralization On the question of the relationship between centralization

and decentralization, Conyers, Rondinelli, Faltas, and others and decentralization, Conyers, Rondinelli, Faltas, and others

appear to echo the views of Fesler in asserting that both appear to echo the views of Fesler in asserting that both

“centralization” and “decentralization” should be regarded as “centralization” and “decentralization” should be regarded as

processes of change, rather than as fixed poles. It is further processes of change, rather than as fixed poles. It is further

argued that it is not possible to envisage a totally argued that it is not possible to envisage a totally

decentralized system of government, and finally that decentralized system of government, and finally that

centralization and decentralization can take place centralization and decentralization can take place

simultaneously. simultaneously.

Rondinelli, Nellis, and Cheema have reviewed the recent Rondinelli, Nellis, and Cheema have reviewed the recent

experiences of decentralization in developing countries, experiences of decentralization in developing countries,

finding that objectives of decentralization may be broadly finding that objectives of decentralization may be broadly

categorized into (a) administrative and management, and (b) categorized into (a) administrative and management, and (b)

political. The political objective assumes that local political. The political objective assumes that local

government or administrative units can provide an effective government or administrative units can provide an effective

channel of communication between the national government channel of communication between the national government

and local communities. It further assumes that “greater and local communities. It further assumes that “greater

participation in development planning and management participation in development planning and management

supposedly promotes national unity by giving groups in supposedly promotes national unity by giving groups in

different regions in a country a greater ability to participate in different regions in a country a greater ability to participate in

planning and decision making, and thus increases their stake planning and decision making, and thus increases their stake

in maintaining political stability.” in maintaining political stability.”

Administrative and management objectives mainly rely on the Administrative and management objectives mainly rely on the

deconcentration of authority to appointed officials to quickly deconcentration of authority to appointed officials to quickly

react to unanticipated problems. It is important, however, to react to unanticipated problems. It is important, however, to

point out that the line of difference between political and point out that the line of difference between political and

management and administrative objectives is often, in the real management and administrative objectives is often, in the real

world of government, very thin indeed.world of government, very thin indeed.

Rondinelli, Nellis, and Cheema view decentralization as an Rondinelli, Nellis, and Cheema view decentralization as an

“ideological principle associated with objectives of self-“ideological principle associated with objectives of self-

reliance, democratic decision making, popular participation in reliance, democratic decision making, popular participation in

government, and accountability of public officials to citizens.” government, and accountability of public officials to citizens.”

In this they appear to differ from the line reasoning advanced In this they appear to differ from the line reasoning advanced

by Fesler, who cautions against a doctrinal approach and in by Fesler, who cautions against a doctrinal approach and in

fact rejects it. He also does not accept the argument that fact rejects it. He also does not accept the argument that

decentralization contributes to democratic decision making. He decentralization contributes to democratic decision making. He

finds that in the doctrinal approach “there is a tendency to link, finds that in the doctrinal approach “there is a tendency to link,

then merge and confuse, decentralization and democracy.”then merge and confuse, decentralization and democracy.”

It is argued that insofar as developing countries are concerned It is argued that insofar as developing countries are concerned

the typologies of devolution, deconcentration, delegation, and the typologies of devolution, deconcentration, delegation, and

privatization may not truly reflect the underlying objectives of privatization may not truly reflect the underlying objectives of

decentralization that a give country adopts. This has been decentralization that a give country adopts. This has been

shown by Conyers in the case of Zambia. Rondinelli has shown by Conyers in the case of Zambia. Rondinelli has

accepted the fact there can be one or a combination of accepted the fact there can be one or a combination of

objectives and forms of decentralization. He has further argued objectives and forms of decentralization. He has further argued

that ultimately decentralization is a political decision, “and its that ultimately decentralization is a political decision, “and its

implementation a reflection of a country’s political process.” implementation a reflection of a country’s political process.”

Conyer’s arguments, centering on the objectives of Conyer’s arguments, centering on the objectives of

decentralization, also support the overwhelmingly political decentralization, also support the overwhelmingly political

connotation inherent in any effort at decentralization. connotation inherent in any effort at decentralization.

Thank you