Decentralization in the Arab world: Conceptualizing the role of neopatrimonial networks. Issue 4 (7th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Demmelhuber, Thomas; Sturm, Roland; Vollmann, Erik
• Is Part Of: Mediterranean politics. Volume 25:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 499
• Page End: 521
• Publication Date: 2020-08-07
• Subjects: Decentralization -- neopatrimonialism -- elite networks -- formal institutions -- informal institutions -- fiscal policy; Mediterranean Region -- Politics and government -- 1945- -- Periodicals; 320.91822
• DOI: 10.1080/13629395.2018.1559391
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1362-9395

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Since the early 1990s, government-led decentralization strategies have emerged in the Arab world, with an additional surge after the Arab uprisings in 2011. Western donors and Arab civil society activists expected an increase in participation and autonomy. Yet the outcome of the reforms varies considerably. We develop a new conceptual approach for the analysis of decentralization processes in the Arab world. We suggest that decentralization is guided, inspired, and used by informal neopatrimonial elite networks on the national, regional, and local levels of government. Fiscal and budgetary policies are suggested as empirical tools to investigate the gap between normative claims connected with formal decentralization and the much more complex reality of decentralization.