ABSTRACT
The 1990s saw a tidal wave of liberal democracy and decentralization across the world. Africa was no exception. These reforms envisaged a shift towards democratic decentralization, or the transfer of power and resources to local democratically elected representatives who are, in turn, accountable to their constituents (Crook and Manor, 1998; Agrawal and Ribot, 1999). But these reforms, carried out in response to economic, political, administrative and social imperatives, were not always successful. A number of African countries – pressured by donors to undertake such reforms – continue to resist the transfer of the powers and resources required to enable local stakeholders to manage their affairs and natural resources (Manor, 1999; Kassibo, 2004; Ribot, 2004, 2007). The tendency is to take back with one hand the advantages they have been obliged to grant with the other.
