Decentralization, Decentralization, Democracy and Democracy and DevelopmentDevelopmentEDMUND S. TAYAOEDMUND S. TAYAOExecutive Director, Local Government Development Foundation (LOGODEF)Executive Director, Local Government Development Foundation (LOGODEF)Department of Political Science, University of Santo TomasDepartment of Political Science, University of Santo TomasManila, PhilippinesManila, Philippines

Systemic Way to Systemic Way to Sustainable Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

Systematize Governance more Systematize Governance more than empower peoplethan empower people

Significant role of Local Significant role of Local Governments as frontline Governments as frontline governance agenciesgovernance agencies

Decentralization, key element in Decentralization, key element in Reinventing GovernmentReinventing Government

Graduate from Principle to Graduate from Principle to Functional SubsidiarityFunctional Subsidiarity

Globalization, Globalization, Democratization and the Democratization and the StateState

Globalization is as much Globalization is as much political as economicpolitical as economic

There could be as much Gains There could be as much Gains as Lossesas Losses

Stability dependent on Stability dependent on Institutions not on LeadersInstitutions not on Leaders

FREEDOM IN THE WORLD

Degree of 1972 2008 Freedom No. of Countries % No. of Countries %

FREE 44 30 90 47 PARTLY FREE 36 24 60 31 UNFREE 68 46 43 22 TOTAL 148 100 193 100

Note: Taken from Freedomhouse International (http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=15). This table

summarizes the Comparative Scores for all countries covered from 1973 to 2008.

Freedom rising amid new era of Globalization and Freedom rising amid new era of Globalization and DemocratizationDemocratization

New Political and Economic Environment and New Political and Economic Environment and Changed Nature of the StateChanged Nature of the State

Simultaneous work on State-making and Simultaneous work on State-making and DevelopmentDevelopment

Erratic Freedom for some States

“Closed”/Authoritarian States on the Left Steep Curve

Consolidated Democracies on the Right

BremmerÕs J Curve

Openness

Stability

Democracy is Finding the Democracy is Finding the Right MixRight Mix

Resilient State Structures but Resilient State Structures but Participative and AccountableParticipative and Accountable

Reforms inevitably means more Reforms inevitably means more substantial role for local substantial role for local governmentsgovernments

Decentralization is key element Decentralization is key element in Democratic Consolidationin Democratic Consolidation

Dilute Power and Undermine Dilute Power and Undermine Authoritarianism's Resource Authoritarianism's Resource BasesBases5 Broad Reasons How Local Government Can Improve 5 Broad Reasons How Local Government Can Improve DemocracyDemocracy Helps to develop democratic values and Helps to develop democratic values and

skills among citizens;skills among citizens;

Increases accountability and Increases accountability and Responsiveness;Responsiveness;

Improves representativeness of Improves representativeness of democracy;democracy;

Enhances Checks and Balances;Enhances Checks and Balances;

Provides Opportunities for Parties and Provides Opportunities for Parties and Factions in Opposition at the center to Factions in Opposition at the center to exercise some measure of political exercise some measure of political power.power.

The Principle of The Principle of SubsidiaritySubsidiarityQuoting the Maastricht Treaty- Subsidiarity Quoting the Maastricht Treaty- Subsidiarity

enjoins the institutions of the Community to enjoins the institutions of the Community to act in areas of concurrent competence "only act in areas of concurrent competence "only if and insofar as the objectives of the if and insofar as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States.” According achieved by the Member States.” According to the principle, the Community institutions to the principle, the Community institutions should refrain from acting, even when should refrain from acting, even when constitutionally permitted to do so, if their constitutionally permitted to do so, if their objectives could effectively be served by objectives could effectively be served by action taken at or below the Member State action taken at or below the Member State level.level.

Development as Development as FreedomFreedom

The wherewithal to exercise FreedomThe wherewithal to exercise Freedom

Real problems are Social Sector issuesReal problems are Social Sector issues

Decentralization is Local Centers of GovernanceDecentralization is Local Centers of Governance

Universal as Concept not as ModelUniversal as Concept not as Model

Importance of Public Goods and Significance of Importance of Public Goods and Significance of Interlocal CooperationInterlocal Cooperation

Why talk about Why talk about Principles?Principles?• A long overdue call for reform (call started as A long overdue call for reform (call started as

early as 1965 and we’re still talking)early as 1965 and we’re still talking)

• The need for an overhaul considering The need for an overhaul considering especially that what we have is a ‘captured especially that what we have is a ‘captured state’state’

• Question of direction, more important is the Question of direction, more important is the question of ‘how?’ (the need for real revolution question of ‘how?’ (the need for real revolution and not of restoration)and not of restoration)

Go Beyond Advocacies and Go Beyond Advocacies and RhetoricsRhetoricsWork for Tangible Programs and Work for Tangible Programs and PoliciesPolicies

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