ABSTRACT
Theliteratureondecentralizationdefinesitasaprocessthatproduces"attempts atredistributionofresources,decisionmakingspaces,jurisdictions,required activitiesandresponsibilities,finally,political-economicpower,ineachspecific socialformation,facedwiththecrisisofthecentralNation-statesandthedevelopingperiphericalStates.Thisredistributioncanoccurbetweengovernment agencies,betweenstatepowersandbetweentheStateandsociety"(Silva1995,17). Thisconceptrequiresanappropriatehistoricandsocialcontextinordertobe usefulinsolvingproblems.
