Decentralization and elite capture

Variable relationship:

Decentralization is a process through which a central government authority transfers authority to lower level government authorities (Centralization), which are typically created by the central authority. This process is posited to lead to improvements under the conditions of natural resource commons, as well as in the ability of those commons to contribute to local livelihoods, by improving accountability and representation, as well as by improving the social-ecological fit. Nevertheless, decentralization often fails to achieve these goals, and sometimes even fails to transfer significant power to local governments

Several reasons have been identified for the failure of power to be transferred effectively. One such explanation is that many governments transfer responsibility to local authorities, who who may have strong loyalties to formal or informal power networks such as political parties or government agencies (Rights Granting Process), which result in "recentralizing" power or clientelistic relations (Agrawal & Ribot 1999; Ribot, Agrawal & Larson 2006). All these aspects can amount to rent seeking and resource conditions (Commons Condition Trend).

Additionally, "recentralization" may occur simultaneously with decentralization when decentralized bodies are transferred insufficient powers and/or when the decentralized bodies are designed so as to be loyal to the power of the central authority.

Project

SESMAD

Sector(s)

 

Scientific Field

Component Type(s)

Local Resource User Group, Group of Local Resource User Groups, Local Government

Status

Public