Deepening Decentralization within Centrally Led States : The Direction of Local Governance Reforms in Southeast Asia
In the early 1990s, a host of unitary states in Southeast Asia began pursuing, at their own pace, the process of decentralizing their systems of governance. The form and function of these reforms were documented in the World Bank's report, Eas...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Working Paper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/372221609941405493/Deepening-Decentralization-within-Centrally-Led-States-The-Direction-of-Local-Governance-Reforms-in-Southeast-Asia http://hdl.handle.net/10986/35005 |
| Summary: | In the early 1990s, a host of unitary
states in Southeast Asia began pursuing, at their own pace,
the process of decentralizing their systems of governance.
The form and function of these reforms were documented in
the World Bank's report, East Asia Decentralizes:
Making Local Government Work, published in 2005. The
analysis in this discussion paper updates the findings and
data from this foundational work and widens the lens to new
countries embarking on similar reforms. The aim is to chart
the overall trajectory of reforms, examine the political
dynamics behind them, and help countries locate their place
in the process. Each country is taking its own path, shaped
by its history, size, and political system, though there are
some similarities. In general, reforms are heavily and
predictably influenced by political dynamics, managed from
the central government, and driven by its priorities. They
result in an unsynchronized and, at times, messy transfer of
funds, functions, and functionaries to lower levels. Central
governments continue to wield considerable influence over
subnational governments through a combination of tight
political controls, concurrent functional assignments,
budgetary measures, and continued bureaucratic control.
Nonetheless, with all their limitations, the countries of
the region are finding ways to muddle through with the
general trajectory toward more, not less, decentralization.
In large part, this process is happening organically and
incrementally without any big bang reforms and with the
direct involvement of central governments. Variously, it is
helping to nudge governments toward greater political
pluralism, innovation, and improved service delivery within
otherwise tightly controlled states. As decentralization
deepens, so too does the importance of effective coordination. |
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