ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the ideological debates that surround the topic of decentralisation, while the second part reviews international ‘soft’ law on decentralisation. It highlights the role of decentralisation in protecting the rights of special interest groups such as women, ethnic minorities and those with disabilities. The chapter provides the argument that decentralisation is only an ideal with limited practical application, especially in developing countries. Evaluating decentralisation in terms of an international normative framework is important since doing so serves to establish benchmarks that may be used in reforming weak decentralised governments. From a political-economy point of view, support for decentralisation considers both economic and political power as crucial in the devolution of powers and functions. The economic model did not escape the criticism of academics and policy analysts, who argued that the Bank had ignored risks associated with macroeconomic discipline, such as hunger and unemployment.
