ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book examines the relationship between evolving international economic system and decentralization processes for understanding policy change towards decentralization, and it explains the impact of decentralization policies on local, national and global political economic relations and on social regulation. This book employs a realist political economy approach that is suggested as an alternative to the liberal-individualist and statist approaches to decentralization. Different local development patterns shaped in the decentralization process helps in defining the dynamics of the neoliberal era. 'Social reproduction' policies of states have been transferred to sub national level state authorities. Poverty reduction programs are becoming increasingly important to the World Bank's policy dialogue and lending operations in its client countries. The form of local politics is characterized by the concept of 'public-private partnership'. In this partnership, the local state is transformed into a 'strategic enabler'.
