Participatory democracy, citizen dialogues and budgeting

  • Choice, Recognition and Democracy Effects of Decentralization

    Many democratic decentralization reforms have been carried out in cooperation with CSO:s, the private sector and other non-governmental agents – but how does this affect the accountability and legitimacy of the local government? This paper examines the effects of institutional choices and exemplifies different democratic dimensions in the process of democratic decentralization. Based on experiences…

  • Perspectives on Decentralisation

    Why do some decentralization reforms fail while others succeed? This is one of the burning questions in the decentralization literature and this publication examines in what contexts different types of decentralization works well and how these types of decentralizations affect society. This research serves therefore as an important contribution to the existing research in the…

  • Perspectives on Decentralisation

    Why do some decentralization reforms fail while others succeed? This is one of the burning questions in the decentralization literature and this publication examines in what contexts different types of decentralization works well and how these types of decentralizations affect society. This research serves therefore as an important contribution to the existing research in the…

  • Local government in South Africa: Can the objectives of the developmental state be achieved through the current model of decentralized governance?

    Under the new constitutional dispensation, South African Local government was given a critical developmental role to play in rebuilding local communities and environments, as the basis for a democratic, integrated, prosperous and non-racial society. This study examines the notions of decentralization and developmentalism, and shows how they have become two of the most significant defining…

  • Local government in South Africa: Can the objectives of the developmental state be achieved through the current model of decentralized governance?

    Under the new constitutional dispensation, South African Local government was given a critical developmental role to play in rebuilding local communities and environments, as the basis for a democratic, integrated, prosperous and non-racial society. This study examines the notions of decentralization and developmentalism, and shows how they have become two of the most significant defining…

  • Devolution, Democracy and Development in Kenya

    In this study, Cornell and D’Arcy explore to what extent devolution has changed Kenyan politics – what progress has been made and what challenges still remain? Although the devolution is in many ways successful and much progress has been made already, the authors highlight a number of critical areas in need of further attention. First,…

  • Devolution, Democracy and Development in Kenya

    In this study, Cornell and D’Arcy explore to what extent devolution has changed Kenyan politics – what progress has been made and what challenges still remain? Although the devolution is in many ways successful and much progress has been made already, the authors highlight a number of critical areas in need of further attention. First,…

  • When Local Government Strikes it Rich

    Elected local councils all across the developing world have long suffered from insufficient funding which deeply undermines their capacity to take constructive action. Local councils in most of India’s 28 states have long faced this problem. This is a study, based on extensive field research, of a major new anti-poverty program in India – the…

  • When Local Government Strikes it Rich

    Elected local councils all across the developing world have long suffered from insufficient funding which deeply undermines their capacity to take constructive action. Local councils in most of India’s 28 states have long faced this problem. This is a study, based on extensive field research, of a major new anti-poverty program in India – the…