Decentralizing the State
Elections, Parties, and Local Power in the Andes

This book, first published in 2005, explores decentralizing reforms in Bolivia, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

Kathleen O'Neill (Author)

9780521846943, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 6 June 2005

286 pages, 7 b/w illus. 37 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.507 kg

“O’Neill’s carefully constructed work sets a useful baseline for others who might be interested in exploring how electoral incentives intersect with other factors that determine why and when decentralization occurs.” - Daniel Ziblatt, Harvard University

This book, first published in 2005, explores the location and dynamics of power within the state, focusing on a recent wave of decentralizing reforms that have swept across both developed and developing countries in recent years. Variation in the timing of reform across countries only vaguely relates to the genesis of an international consensus pushed by big lenders and development banks or the reemergence of democracy in decentralizing countries. The book develops a theory linking decentralization's adoption to the electoral concerns of political parties: decentralization represents a desirable strategy for parties whose support at subnational levels appears more secure than their prospects in national elections. It examines this argument against experiences in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela and speculates on how recent political changes may affect decentralization's shape and extent in coming years.

Part I. Electoral Theory and Comparative Evidence: 1. Introduction
2. A political theory of decentralization
3. Decentralization in comparative perspective
Part II. In-Depth Country Studies: 4. The Colombian experience
5. The Bolivian experience
6. Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela
Part III. Comparisons, Conclusions, and Extensions: 7. Comparisons, conclusions, and extensions
8. Afterword.

Subject Areas: Comparative politics [JPB], Regional studies [GTB]