ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with some of the theoretical aspects of the decentralization. Decentralization has a long history. Political thinkers from Montesquieu to Madison suggest that decentralized governance can contribute to democratic participation, better representation, accountability and policy and governmental effectiveness. Most of the modern Indian nationalist thinkers were also not in favour of a strong centralized post-independent state. Decentralization is a theme discussed in relation to a wide range of related subjects like public sector reform, democracy, political reform, participation, empowerment, rural development, fiscal and economic development, accountability, and capacity building. Deliberative democracy is a form of participatory democracy formulated by a host of writers coming mainly from the Western countries. The revival of democracy especially of the participatory kind has made it necessary for Non-governmental organizations and local governments to redefine their roles and look for new forms of collaboration. Ideas of 'metagovernance' and 'second generation' theorizing on governance draw on deliberative and inter-subjective approaches.
