Introduction

The prospect of redistributing power from central government offices to local actors and organizations has repeatedly tantalized academics, politicians, and policymakers over the past century. Polsby describes decentralization as “one of the great resonant themes of contemporary politics” (Polsby, 1979: 1). Interest in the topic has left few government sectors untouched. Policies aimed at promoting decentralization have been designed and implemented in fields ranging from agriculture to mental health to education. The concept has occupied center stage, fallen out favor, and reasserted itself into international discourse in a series of waves, never completely disappearing from view. In nations around the globe policymakers promulgated decentralization measures in hopes that such action would cure the social and economic ills faced by their polities (Cheema & Rondinelli, 1983; Hanson, 1998; McGinn, 1992). When increases in local autonomy failed to meet established goals, government leaders once again promoted central control as the key to progress.