Decentralization, Local Governance, and Inequality in the Middle East and North Africa
Decentralization, Local Governance, and Inequality in the Middle East and North Africa
edited by Kristen Kao and Ellen Lust
University of Michigan Press, 2025
ISBNs
Cloth: 978-0-472-07713-7
Paper: 978-0-472-05713-9
eISBN: 978-0-472-90475-4 (OA)
About the Book
While many scholars, policymakers, and development practitioners view decentralization as a way to increase participation, strengthen political representation, and improve social welfare, little is known about the experiences of communities in the context of decentralization – particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. This volume directs our attention toward the ways in which decentralization is “lived locally” by citizens of the MENA region, underscoring the simultaneous influences of individual-level factors (e.g., gender, education) and local context (e.g., development levels, electoral institutions) on governance processes and outcomes.
A group of international scholars brings together methodologically diverse, original research in Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia to expand the literature on decentralization. Following a preface by Hicham Alaoui, the empirical chapters are arranged into three thematic sections. These focus on subnational variations in the relationships between central and local actors, citizen engagement with state and non-state institutions, and the extent to which representatives reflect their local communities. Together, these chapters provide important insights into governance, participation, and representation in the MENA and open new questions for furthering the study of governance and local development. Only by unpacking perspectives and governance experiences at the micro-level can we understand how decentralization policies affect citizens’ everyday lives.
A group of international scholars brings together methodologically diverse, original research in Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia to expand the literature on decentralization. Following a preface by Hicham Alaoui, the empirical chapters are arranged into three thematic sections. These focus on subnational variations in the relationships between central and local actors, citizen engagement with state and non-state institutions, and the extent to which representatives reflect their local communities. Together, these chapters provide important insights into governance, participation, and representation in the MENA and open new questions for furthering the study of governance and local development. Only by unpacking perspectives and governance experiences at the micro-level can we understand how decentralization policies affect citizens’ everyday lives.
About the Author
Kristen Kao is a Docent (Associate Professor) at the Department of Political Science, University of Gothenburg.
Ellen Lust is Founder and Director of the Governance and Local Development Institute at the University of Gothenburg and Cornell University; Professor of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg; and Director of the Einaudi Center for International Relations, and Professor in the Department of Government and in the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University.
Ellen Lust is Founder and Director of the Governance and Local Development Institute at the University of Gothenburg and Cornell University; Professor of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg; and Director of the Einaudi Center for International Relations, and Professor in the Department of Government and in the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University.
Reviews
“This is the go-to book for grounded scholarly analysis on decentralization, one of the most important and often contentious issues in the debate about governance, reform, and development in the Middle East and North Africa.”— Professor Lina Khatib, Chatham House
“This volume will be of significant interest to scholars interested in decentralization and local governance, political party functioning and party systems at the local level, and political representation and participation, as well as the politics of the MENA region.”— Gina Lambright, American University
“Reminding us to look at power dynamics outside of capital cities, this fascinating volume examines how decentralization reforms are ‘locally lived.’ Theoretically and empirically rich, it explores the design, implementation, and impact of reforms ostensibly intended to improve political participation, representation, and inequality, and provides important insights into who does and does not benefit and why.”— Janine Clark, University of Toronto Mississauga
“With its bottom-up inspired approach to understand local state-society relations and how this affects patterns of participation, engagement, and representation, this volume helps create a better understanding of local governance and development. This is a first-rate piece on decentralization in the Middle East with substantial findings for avenues of future research.”— Thomas Demmelhuber, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nu¨rnberg
Tags
Emerging Democracies, Africa North, Decentralization in government, Decentralization, Local Governance, Middle East North Africa, Political participation, Democracy, Middle East, Political Ideologies, World, Political Science
Open Access Information
License: CC BY-NC
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