The term decentralization forms a great portion of some of
the most important analyses with regards to political science. Within the
discipline of political science, the study on governments is one of the
broadest topics. Analysis of government is done differently from one setting to
another. Decentralization is one of the most common tools through which this
analysis takes place. Generally, the term decentralization is used to refer to
the redistribution of authority and administration within a defined society. Although
decentralization is an important topic within the broader discipline of
political science, the importance of its study is felt in other disciplines
such as management science, law, technology, economics, and group dynamics. In
political science and other related topics, decentralization is defined as the
processes through which the various powers, functions, and authoritative
figures are dispersed from a central authoritative point or location. The main
aim of this paper is to conduct an extensive analysis with regards to an
article on decentralization. The review will incorporate a critique on the
different strengths and weaknesses that exist in decentralization and the
impact this has on the effectiveness of government.
The article
under review throughout the course of this paper is authored by Dennis A.
Rondinelli. The title of the article is Government
Decentralization in Comparative Perspective: Theory and Practice in Developing
Countries. The article was published by Sage Publications on behalf of The
International Institute of Administration Sciences. Although it was published
in 1980, there are article continues to have an impact on the society to this day.
The author – Dennis A. Rondinelli - is one of the most celebrated professors
with regards to International Relations and Development Planning studies. A
professor in Syracuse University, Dennis has presented a wealth of information with
regards to decentralization. Here, information about the various practices
shaping it up and the impact of its practice within the governmental setting
has been dealt with extensively.
In the
introduction section, the author has begun by looking at the need to
decentralize and why various administrations embrace this practice. Developing nations have been utilized by the
author in presenting important information with regards to management and
development planning. The international assistance agencies have also been
employed in the analysis of the impact of decentralization on the various
management functions. Here, decentralization has been presented as being an
important element through which the various developing nations and
international assistance agencies attend to the responsibilities presented in
planning and management. The author argues that decentralization has shifted
from being a mere analytical tool to a necessity with regards to effectives.
Developing nations and the international assistance agencies are now expected
to not only embrace, but also integrate and enhance the activities and
principles shaping up decentralization.
The author
goes on to present two main arguments through which nations and international
organization embrace decentralization. The third world countries are utilized
in the discussion of the reasons behind decentralization. The governing powers
in the various third world countries are presented as being on the frontline in
embracing decentralization due to the fact it impact on the various benefits of
growth. The author has argued that the governments in the third world countries
require decentralization so as to effectively spread and accelerate the
benefits presented by growth. Here, the author has presented decentralization
as a necessity in governance within the third world setting. Within the third
world setting, the author has analyzed decentralization as a means through
which the diverse regions in the various heterogeneous countries are
effectively integrated. According to the author, the effective integration of
regions within the various third world settings is dependent on the nature and
level of decentralization embraced. So important is decentralization in this
integration that the level of effectiveness experienced therein is dependent on
how the governing authority embraces and utilizes the various principles and
regulations shaping up decentralization. Within the heterogeneous countries,
there are different factors that affect effective decentralization. The author
has presented important information with regards to the challenges posed by
these factors and how decentralization addressed each of the major challenges
presented therein.
The third
world countries are defined through their economic challenges as well as the
poverty levels. Details about what can and should be done so as to make life
better within the various third world countries have been the background of
many studies. The author presents decentralization as one of the tools through
which development is not only instituted, but also enhanced in third world
countries. According to the author, it is necessary to embrace decentralization
within the third world country settings so as to enjoy the benefits that come
with regional integration.
There are
different challenges presented in decentralization. The challenges differ from
each other with regards to the nature and level of impact they have on the
overall effectiveness of decentralization. The activities of the various
international assistance organizations on developing countries form one of the
platforms through which the analysis has taken place. The author has presented
factual information with regards to the growth and effectiveness of the various
activities within the various developing countries. The United States Agency
for International Development USAID is one of the institutions that have been
utilized in the course of the article. The article has conducted a comparative
analysis with regards to the effectiveness of centralized and decentralized
governance systems. Here, the author employs the activities of USAID in various
third world countries to compare the effectiveness presented in centralized and
decentralized governance systems. The centralized governance system is
presented as being less effective due to a number of reasons. Within the centralized
governance systems, there is room for corruption and the governance usually
ends up benefiting a few individuals in a project that was set to benefit a
variety of individuals.
Some of the
most important management functions under analysis throughout the course of the
paper are decision making and planning. As the author looks at the various
benefits presented in decentralization, there is a wealth of information
presented in the impact of decision making and planning in public
administration. The author has presented one of the major way of experiencing
efficiency in public administration as being governance through
decentralization. Through decentralization, the nature and level of efficiency
experienced in decision making is increased. Here, the scope of decision making
is widened while increasing the number of heads being brought together to think
the various decisions through.
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