what is local government?

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1 Local Government : Local Government : Concept and Theoretical Concept and Theoretical Overview Overview Dr. Salahuddin Aminuzzaman Dr. Salahuddin Aminuzzaman Professor, Dept. of Public Administration Professor, Dept. of Public Administration UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA [email protected] [email protected] 7 th th March 2012 March 2012

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Local Government : Concept and Theoretical Overview Dr. Salahuddin Aminuzzaman Professor, Dept. of Public Administration UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA [email protected] 7 th March 2012. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: What is Local Government?

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Local Government :Local Government :

Concept and Theoretical Overview Concept and Theoretical Overview

Dr. Salahuddin AminuzzamanDr. Salahuddin AminuzzamanProfessor, Dept. of Public AdministrationProfessor, Dept. of Public Administration

UNIVERSITY OF DHAKAUNIVERSITY OF [email protected]@yahoo.com

77thth March 2012 March 2012

Page 2: What is Local Government?

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Government of local area ( Area is defined Government of local area ( Area is defined by law)by law)

Government hGovernment having limited aving limited control and and authority over specific geographical area and authority over specific geographical area and can not pass or enforce laws/ rules that will / rules that will affect a wider areaaffect a wider area

Manned by elected representativesManned by elected representatives

Enjoys legal and administrative authorityEnjoys legal and administrative authorityEmpowered to tax, regulate and enforce Empowered to tax, regulate and enforce authorityauthority

What is Local Government?

Page 3: What is Local Government?

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Why Local Government?Why Local Government?

Constitutional obligationConstitutional obligation Separation of power and counter balanceSeparation of power and counter balanceBring government closer to communityBring government closer to communityMake democracy sustainable and Make democracy sustainable and

groundedgroundedEnsure effective participationEnsure effective participationPromote local priorities Promote local priorities Ensure political and administrative Ensure political and administrative

accountabilityaccountability

Page 4: What is Local Government?

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Why Local Government?Why Local Government?

Effective delivery of services A mechanism to ensure

decentralizationEncourage the process of economic

growthPromote and preserve diversity and

cultural heritageTo tackle the pressure of Urbanization

Page 5: What is Local Government?

Theories of LGTheories of LGLocal government theories has primarily Local government theories has primarily dealt with the nature dealt with the nature relationship with relationship with central and local level political system. central and local level political system.

  

Liberal-Democratic Theory:Liberal-Democratic Theory: LG is needed to create these values relate to Political

Education, Training in Leadership and Political Stability. LG facilitates its accountability and preserves the liberty by LG facilitates its accountability and preserves the liberty by

asserting the right of individuals to be grouped in local asserting the right of individuals to be grouped in local communities. communities.

LG also works as defense/shield against arbitrary power or centralizing power.

LGs are responsive to the demands and needs of the communityLGs are responsive to the demands and needs of the community Centre has to survive with partnership with LG. Centre has to survive with partnership with LG.

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Page 6: What is Local Government?

Theories of LGTheories of LG

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Economic Theory

LG as providers of packages of goods, services.

LG provides widest range of choices of services based on local needs.

LG ensures allocative justice and efficienct use of collective goods

Page 7: What is Local Government?

Theories of LG…Theories of LG…Elitist Theory Elitist Theory LG is LG is body that promotes local interest body that promotes local interest

and protects state expansion and and protects state expansion and centralization.centralization.

LGs are basically pluralist and they LGs are basically pluralist and they handle secondary issues of lesser handle secondary issues of lesser importance to national elitesimportance to national elites. .

LGs are tied to national elites by LGs are tied to national elites by network of patronage, clientelism and network of patronage, clientelism and control over public expenditure.control over public expenditure.

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Page 8: What is Local Government?

Theories of LG…Theories of LG…

Consolidationist SchoolConsolidationist School Twentieth century scholars on American Twentieth century scholars on American

state and local government have largely state and local government have largely abandoned such a strong localist position. abandoned such a strong localist position. Influenced by notions of economies of scale Influenced by notions of economies of scale and “burden spreading” (redistribution of and “burden spreading” (redistribution of resources) in urban areas, the post-World resources) in urban areas, the post-World War II period has been dominated by the so-War II period has been dominated by the so-called “consolidationist” school of local called “consolidationist” school of local government. government. Big is beautifulBig is beautiful! It is ! It is economical, efficient and effective.economical, efficient and effective.

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Page 9: What is Local Government?

Theories of LG…Theories of LG…

Public Choice theory of LGPublic Choice theory of LG Public Choice Public Choice theorist takes a strong position theorist takes a strong position

against the consolidationist. against the consolidationist.

This theory maintain that the This theory maintain that the model of the model of the market place fits local governmentmarket place fits local government. They . They strongly highlighted the idea of strongly highlighted the idea of community based community based mobilization of resourcesmobilization of resources and and decision on its decision on its allocationallocation. .

They argue that that They argue that that people “consume” people “consume” government and its services as they wantgovernment and its services as they want. .

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International/ Regional experiencesInternational/ Regional experiences Too many tiers means confusing roles and Too many tiers means confusing roles and

excessive administrative costsexcessive administrative costsOwn resources – gives flexibility to respond Own resources – gives flexibility to respond

to citizen’s preferencesto citizen’s preferencesOwn resourse also enhances accountabilityOwn resourse also enhances accountability Involvement of civil society as watchdogInvolvement of civil society as watchdogFiscal transfers and audits/ monitoring brings Fiscal transfers and audits/ monitoring brings

good resultgood resultLinking community voice to fiscal transfers Linking community voice to fiscal transfers

and audits (social watch and audit) enhances and audits (social watch and audit) enhances accountabilityaccountability

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Key Institutional LessonsKey Institutional Lessons

Three Fs: Functions, Finance, and Functionaries creates the capacity

Capacity grows with responsibility Responsibility grows with managing own-

resources With own-resources comes accountability Accountability is assured by citizen

participation/ involvement and central audit

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Central Govt,

Local Govt.

Local communities

Line Agenciesand Projects NGOs

State of LGBy pass model – Bangladesh Experiences

Page 13: What is Local Government?

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Impact of by passImpact of by pass

Weak LG system/ poor image/ lack of trustWeak LG system/ poor image/ lack of trustPeople become Centre oriented/ NGO People become Centre oriented/ NGO

dependent for service deliveriesdependent for service deliveriesWiden the scope central control / Widen the scope central control /

bureaucratization of development and bureaucratization of development and governancegovernance

By pass model is costly and not By pass model is costly and not sustainablesustainable

Page 14: What is Local Government?

Questions and AnswerQuestions and Answer

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