scholarly journals Yes to Local Government, No to Participatory Democracy: The Local Governance Reform Dilemma in Trinidad, St. Lucia and St. Vincent

2009 ◽  
pp. 31-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bishnu Ragoonath
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Trinidad And Tobago ◽  
Participatory Democracy ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Citizen Involvement ◽  
Government Reform ◽  
Governance Reform ◽  
General Acceptance ◽  
The People ◽  
Commonwealth Caribbean

In the Commonwealth Caribbean countries of St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, local government reform has been and continues to remain on the agenda. The proposals are all based on the philosophy that there should be elected local government, which in turn should facilitate substantive levels of participatory democracy and citizen involvement. But whilst there is general acceptance of this philosophy, central governments are seemingly reluctant to implement any reforms which would return power to the people. Citizen involvement and participatory democracy has thus become the bug-bear in the process, and has led to the stalling of local government reform in all three countries. With reforms having stalled, one wonders whether the next step will be the dissolution of systems of local government in these states.

Local governance and the crisis of water and sanitation provision in medium-sized urban centres: Evidence from three cities in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
pp. 026909422110353
Author(s):  
Kayode J Samuel ◽  
Samuel B Agbola ◽  
Olorunfemi A Olojede
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Water And Sanitation ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
The People ◽  
Efficient Delivery ◽  
Essential Services ◽  
Effective Delivery ◽  
Basic Services

Local governance encompasses the involvement of local governments and other community-based organizations in participatory decision-making for efficient delivery of public services. In the developing world, however, the weakness of the local government and local governance has inhibited the efficient and effective delivery of these services. Relying on water and sanitation data and interviews of relevant officials, this study analyses the structure of governance of water supply and sanitation (WSS) at the community levels in selected medium-sized urban centres in Nigeria. Results showed that majority of the city dwellers lacked access to safe water and sanitation, an indication of convoluted, poorly regulated provision regimes and the waning capacity of local governments to galvanize local actions towards the efficient provision and management of these services at community levels. Multiple provision regimes, weak coordinating and regulatory frameworks characterize WSS governance. Further, the sub-national authorities’ encroachment on local government funds which deprived these tiers of government the resources they could have used in providing these essential services presents a major setback. Local governments require financial and constitutional autonomy to provide basic services to the people and supervise and coordinate the activities of other governmental and non-governmental actors involved in service provision.

Good Local Governance. Local Government Reform in Global Perspective. An Introduction

2009 ◽  
pp. 9-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norbert Kersting ◽  
Janice Caulfield ◽  
R. Andrew Nickson ◽  
Dele Olowu ◽  
Hellmut Wollmann
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Government Reform

scholarly journals GOOD LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN VIETNAM – BASED ON THE VIETNAM PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PERFORMANCE INDEX IN RECENT YEARS

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (5) ◽  
pp. 73-88
Author(s):  
Nguyen Trong Binh ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Performance Index ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Reform Process ◽  
Government Reform ◽  
Governance Theory ◽  
The Government

Currently, public governance theory and "good governance" have a profound and positive influence on the government reform process in many countries around the world today. In essence, good governance is the set of principles and criteria on social management to maximize public interests as well as promote and ensure the harmonious and sustainable development of a country. It can be said that good governance is both the ideal state and the goal that government reform in countries is aiming for, and the guiding principles for the design and operation of the state apparatus, government or system. In recent years, reform of government as well as reform of local government, according to good governance theory in Vietnam, has achieved many outstanding results. This is evident in the improvement in the indicators of provincial governance and public administration (Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (hereinafter referred to as PAPI)) in Vietnam over the years. Based on the survey results of PAPI in recent years, the article analyzes the good governance level of the local government of Vietnam, offers comments and assessments and proposes solutions on how to increase and strengthen the reform of local government in Vietnam according to good governance theory.

New Approaches to Local Democracy: Direct Democracy, Participation and the ‘Third Sector’

10.1068/c9950 ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ján Buček ◽  
Brian Smith
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Direct Democracy ◽  
Participatory Democracy ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Local Democracy ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Third Sector ◽  
Established Democracies

Two themes of particular significance in the changing world of local government are examined: the growing pressures to incorporate participatory and direct forms of democracy into local government; and the varied use of a complex structure of nongovernmental organisations as part of local governance. Two main forms of democracy with participation are discussed: direct democracy and participatory democracy. Differences between them are explained and the demands for them in transitional and established democracies are described. The different ways in which ‘third sector’ bodies are involved in local governance are explored and their contribution to local democratisation assessed. Innovations in participation and the involvement of the third sector can revitalise local democracy.

scholarly journals Local Government and Traditional Authorities in Concert: Towards a More Productive Relationship

1970 ◽  
pp. 7-25
Author(s):  
Callistus Mahama
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Administration ◽  
Mutual Relationship ◽  
Legal Provisions ◽  
The People ◽  
Traditional Authorities ◽  
Positive Effect

Ghana embarked on decentralisation in 1988 as a way of bringing decision making closer to the people. Since then, there have several reforms with a view to strengthening local governance. This article identifies a major challenge still facing Ghana’s decentralisation: Partnership between local government and traditional authorities. The paper discusses the fuzzy relationship between local governments and traditional authorities as a result of constitutional and legislative ambiguity on their relationship. Traditional Authorities perform important functions in the country, albeit their roles have waned since independence. Yet current legal provisions on local government have not sufficiently clarified their role in local administration. This has led to a murky and competing relationship between traditional authorities and local governments. In localities where mutual relationship exists, it is mainly as a result of the personalities involved and this has had a positive effect on the development of the area. The paper concludes by advocating for measures which among others include a re-enactment of legislation which will define the working relationship between traditional authorities and local government.

scholarly journals Institutionalising federalism in Nepal: operationalising obstacles, procrastinated progress

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-139
Author(s):  
Keshav Kumar Acharya ◽  
Habib Zafarullah
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Government Grants ◽  
The People ◽  
Government Legislation ◽  
And Control

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how local government bodies in Nepal are empowered to play their constitutional roles and engage in activities to deliver public services at the doorsteps of the people effectively. The focus is on the institutionalisation of federalism, its implications for local governance, and capacity development of local authorities.Design/methodology/approachIdeas of decentralisation, governance and public management have been used to interpret findings based on qualitative research methods by key informant interviews, focus group discussions and personal observations conducted in five selected municipalities in Nepal.FindingsThe process of operationalising the power of local government bodies is more conventional and hierarchic. At the same time, the formulation and implementation of inclusive plans and budgeting are confined with certain formalities that do not necessarily allow citizens the space for voices. Federal government grants constrain fiscal jurisdiction and control over resource mobilisation. The mere preparation and administration of local government legislation and relevant by-laws have weakened the capacity of local government bodies.Originality/valueFrom interpretation of first-hand data, this paper has identified the pitfalls of the federalisation process, the constraints deter the devolution of power to local bodies as well as the transformation of local governments into autonomous institutions in Nepal.

scholarly journals Political Devolution

SAGE Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824401668681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachmat Hidayat
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governance ◽  
Local Development ◽  
The Political ◽  
Education And Health ◽  
The People ◽  
Political Motivation ◽  
The World ◽  
Democratic Decentralization ◽  
The Government

The emergence of decentralization throughout the world has provoked question whether decentralization has played several important roles in fostering accountable and responsible governance. As the concept of governance expanded, so did thinking about the rationale, objectives, and forms of decentralization. Decentralization now encompasses not only the transfer of power, authority, and responsibility within the government but also the sharing of authority and resources for shaping public policy within society. One of the important reasons that drives Indonesian government to deliver a democratic decentralization is political motivation. This relates to the growing intention to local development throughout the country posed the need for political and administrative arrangement to meet the country’s diversity. This study describes and explores the nature and the process of political devolution in the context of local government in Indonesia, in particular assessing the political devolution performance in the regency of Jember. This article employs a model that combines Boex and Yilmaz and the Local Governance Barometer framework for assessing political devolution performances. The article focuses on those issues and on the opportunities for the local government to improve the most important basic needs of the people—education and health sectors in Indonesia.

scholarly journals The idea of the bill as a hidden element of legislative technique (as an example of local government reform in 2014—2015)

2020 ◽  
pp. 28-38
Author(s):  
Natalya Bobrova ◽  
Ilya Alexandrov
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
State Power ◽  
Main Idea ◽  
Government Reform ◽  
Federal Law ◽  
The People ◽  
Legal Nature ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
Extension Of State

The article analyzes the supra-legal nature of the decrees is analyzed, by which the President of the Russian Federation implements a constitutional authority to determine the main directions of the state’s domestic and foreign policy. It is proven that the idea and concept of the draft law — it’s not the same thing: the idea of many legislative novels is initially hidden, not indicated in the concept of the bill. The concept of the bill is always positive, aimed at the future, even if the reform is unpopular. The concept of federal government reform in 2014, relying solely on democratic rhetoric, it allowed not to expose or even hide the main idea of this reform. Federal law of May 27, 2014 no. 136-ФЗ — example of legally jewelry reform, the real (hidden) idea of which differs from the concept of the law, and is also different from the rhetoric of its initiators. Local government has become an extension of state power, which is a hidden idea of reform. The stated concept of reform — proximity to the people — not realized, for there was a different purpose (hidden idea) — embedding local governments in the vertical of state power.

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