The dilemma of decentralization: A study of local politics in Uganda
Lambright, Gina Margaret Somodevilla;
PhD Dissertation
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY (2003)
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Abstract:
Decentralization has recently risen to the top of many governments' political agendas throughout the developing world. The stated goals of these programs reflect the idea that decentralization cultivates grassroots democracy and development by shifting political power and financial authority to local levels. In Africa, decentralization is also seen as a remedy for the problems of the centralized political systems adopted by many African governments shortly after independence.
Decentralization necessarily increases the importance of local political institutions and local elites. The question remains, however, whether local governments that have historically been poorly funded and politically marginalized under authoritarian rule can actually fulfill new responsibilities given to them with decentralization. This research project sheds light on this important question by identifying factors that contribute to good performance among local governments in Uganda. Uganda provides an excellent case in which to explore these issues given its adoption of a comprehensive decentralization program beginning in 1993. This study combines two principal research strategies.
First, I created an aggregate dataset that allows me to examine my hypotheses across 45 local governments in Uganda. Second, I conducted in-depth research in three Ugandan districts to explore the impact of different explanations for performance in these three districts. Other studies of institutional performance, most notably Putnam's work in Italy (1993), point to societal factors, such as social capital, civil society and political participation to explain differences in performance.
I argue, however, that political variables are critical to understanding differences in local government performance. The central government in many countries continues to play an important role in local politics even after decentralization. I supplement existing explanations for performance by identifying the various ways in which central-local relations and features of the local political context affect the performance of local governments. I distinguish between administrative linkages that offer opportunities for critical instruction and mentoring by the center and political linkages that may provide the center with increased opportunities for meddling into local government affairs.
Political linkages include varying levels of district support for the center and central government support to districts. I present evidence to show that central-local relations matter for successful local government performance. I find that political linkages between the center and Uganda's districts influence the performance of district councils. District support for the central government is positively related to council performance. Opposition to the center has costs that are often paid locally. The influence of central government support to districts on performance is less certain and depends on existing levels of support for the center among local populations.
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