DOCSLIB.ORG

Decentralization in Unitary States

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Decentralization in Unitary States Decentralization in Unitary StateS Constitutional Frameworks for the Middle East and North Africa Decentralization in Unitary States: Constitutional Frameworks for the Middle East and North Africa Decentralization in Unitary States: Constitutional Frameworks for the Arab States Region Center for Constitutional Transitions, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance and the United Nations Development Project Project Leads: Sujit Choudhry, Founding Director, Center for Constitutional Transisions, I.Michael Heyman Professor of Law and Dean, University of California, Berkeley Richard Stacey, Director of Research, Center for Constitutional Transitions, Assistant professor, Facultuy of Law, University of Toronto Project Team Members: Christopher Beshara, Casey Downing, Matthew Holbreich, Poonam Singh © Copyright 2014 Center for Constitutional Transitions, International IDEA and the United Nations Development Programme The electronic version of this publication (excluding the cover photos) is available under a Creative Commons License (CCI) – Creative Commons Attribute-Non Commercial- Share Alike 3.0 Licence. International IDEA publications are independent of specific national or political interests. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of International IDEA, its Board or its Council members. ISBN: 978-91-87729-88-1 What is International IDEA? The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is an intergovernmental organization with a mission to support sustainable democracy worldwide.The objectives of the Institute are to support stronger democratic institutions and processes, and more sustainable, effective and legitimate democracy. What does International IDEA do? The Institute’s work is organized at the global, regional and country levels, focusing on the citizen as the driver of change. International IDEA produces comparative knowledge in its key areas of expertise: electoral processes, constitution building, political participation and representation, and democracy and development, as well as on democracy as it relates to gender, diversity, and conflict and security. IDEA brings this knowledge to national and local actors who are working for democratic reform, and facilitates dialogue in support of democratic change. In its work, IDEA aims for: • increased capacity, legitimacy and credibility of democracy; • more inclusive participation and accountable representation; and • more effective and legitimate democracy cooperation Where does International IDEA work? International IDEA works worldwide. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, the Institute has offices in the Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and West Asia and North Africa regions. Decentralization in Unitary States: Constitutional Frameworks for the Middle East and North Africa The Center for Constitutional Transitions generates and mobilizes knowledge in support of constitution building. Agenda-Setting Research: Constitutional Transitions generates knowledge by identifying issues of critical importance to the success of constitutional transitions, where a lack of adequate, up-to-date research impedes the effectiveness of technical assistance for constitution building. Constitutional Transitions assembles and leads international networks of experts to complete thematic research projects that offer evidence-based policy options to practitioners. Field support: Constitutional Transitions mobilizes knowledge through an innovative research programme that provides ‘back office’ research support to constitutional advisers in the field, deploying experts and field researchers for support on the ground. Constitutional Transitions meets existing field missions’ needs for comprehensive research, dramatically enhancing their effectiveness and efficiency in their role as policy advisers and actors. Constitutional Transitions’ client for 2012–14 is the West Asia and North Africa Office of International IDEA, which it has supported with over 40 student researchers from 11 countries stationed in the US, Beirut, Cairo and Tunis. For more information, please visit http://www.constitutionaltransitions.org Since 1966, UNDP has been partnering with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, UNDP offers global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. UNDP’s focus is helping countries build and share solutions to the challenges of: • Poverty Reduction and Achievement of the MDGs • Democratic Governance • Crisis Prevention and Recovery • Environment and Energy for Sustainable Development World leaders have pledged to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, including the overarching goal of cutting poverty in half by 2015. UNDP's network links and coordinates global and national efforts to reach these Goals through: • Coordinating the UN’s efforts to monitor countries’ rates of MDG achievement; • Providing policy and technical advice to countries as they work to achieve the MDGs; • Working with countries on in-depth country analyses and reports on MDG progress, both negative and positive. UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all areas of its work, UNDP encourages the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women, minorities and the poorest and most vulnerable. 4 Decentralization in Unitary States: Constitutional Frameworks for the Middle East and North Africa About this Report The Constitutional Transitions Clinic ‘back office’ has, from 2011 to 2014, prepared a series of thematic, comparative research reports on issues in constitutional design that have arisen in the Middle East and North Africa. Zaid Al-Ali, Senior Adviser on Constitution Building at International IDEA, acted as an adviser on these reports and oversaw International IDEA’s participation in the report-drafting process. The United Nations Development Programme’s Regional Center provided both material and substantive support in relation to the last three of the six reports. The first three of these reports are jointly published by Constitutional Transitions and International IDEA. The second three are jointly published by Constitutional Transitions, International IDEA and the United Nations Development Programme. The reports are intended to be used as an engagement tools in support of constitution-building activities in the region. The full list of reports is: • Constitutional Courts after the Arab Spring: Appointment Mechanisms and Relative Judicial Independence (Spring 2014) • Semi-Presidentialism as Power Sharing: Constitutional reform after the Arab Spring (Spring 2014) • Political Party Finance Regulation: Constitutional reform after the Arab Spring (Spring 2014) • Anti-Corruption: Constitutional Frameworks for the Middle East and North Africa (Fall 2014) • Decentralization in Unitary States: Constitutional Frameworks for the Middle East and North Africa (Fall 2014) • Oil and Natural Gas: Constitutional Frameworks for the Middle East and North Africa (Fall 2014) The reports are available in English and Arabic at www.constitutionaltransitions.org and www.idea.int. For more information, please visit www.constitutionaltransitions.org. 5 Acknowledgements The authors of this report wish to thank George Anderson (Center for Constitution- al Transitions), Jennifer Canose (NYU School of Law), Alia al-Dalli (UNDP), Khadija Moalla (Tunisia), Ahmed Ouerfelli (Office of the President of Tunisia), Mohamed Chafik Sarsar (Tunisia Electoral Commission) and Geoff Prewitt (UNDP). The views expressed in this report, and any errors it contains, are the responsibility of the authors alone. Many of the ideas that are set out in this report were tested in a conference that took place on 1 April 2014 at in Tunis, Tunisia, attended by Tunisian academics, postgraduate law students, members of the Tunisian Constituent Assembly and legal advisers to the Tuni- sian state. We are grateful for the helpful suggestions offered by the conference partici- pants. This report has been prepared by the Center for Constitutional Transitions, with the assistance of students of the New York University School of Law. The report does not purport to present New York University’s institutional views, if any. All English-language translations of documents referred to in this report are unofficial, unless otherwise noted. 6 Decentralization in Unitary States: Constitutional Frameworks for the Middle East and North Africa Contents About this Report.............................................................................................................. 5 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................6 Preface ............................................................................................................................... 9 Executive Summary...........................................................................................................11 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................22 1.1 Decentralization in new democracies .................................................................. 22 1.2 Definition of decentralization .............................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Uruguay's Constitution of 1966, Reinstated in 1985, with Amendments Through 2004
    PDF generated: 28 Mar 2017, 19:28 constituteproject.org Uruguay's Constitution of 1966, Reinstated in 1985, with Amendments through 2004 English Translation © 2012 by William S. Hein & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. Amendments translated by Jefri J. Ruchti Prepared for distribution on constituteproject.org with content generously provided by Hein Online. This document has been recompiled and reformatted using texts collected in Hein Online’s World Constitution’s Illustrated. constituteproject.org PDF generated: 28 Mar 2017, 19:28 Table of contents SECTION I: The Nation and Its Sovereignty . 3 SECTION II: Rights, Duties and Guarantees . 4 SECTION III: Citizenship and Suffrage . 14 SECTION IV: The Form of Government and Its Various Powers . 18 SECTION V: The Legislative Power . 18 SECTION VI: Sessions of the General Assembly. Provisions Common to Both Chambers. The Permanent Commission . 23 SECTION VII: Introduction, Discussion, Passage and Promulgation of the Laws . 28 SECTION VIII: Relations Between the Legislative Power and the Executive Power . 30 SECTION IX: The Executive Power . 32 SECTION X: The Ministers of State . 39 SECTION XI: The Autonomous Entities and Decentralized Services . 41 SECTION XII: The National Economic Council . 45 SECTION XIII: The Tribunal of Accounts . 46 SECTION XIV: The Public Wealth . 48 SECTION XV: The Judicial Power . 52 SECTION XVI: The Government and Administration of the Departments . 58 SECTION XVII: The Contentious-Administrative . 69 SECTION XVII: Electoral Justice . 72 SECTION XIX: The Observance of Former Laws. Enforcement and Amendment of the Present Constitution . 73 Transitory and Special Provisions . 75 Uruguay 1966 (reinst. 1985, rev. 2004) Page 2 constituteproject.org PDF generated: 28 Mar 2017, 19:28 SECTION I: The Nation and Its Sovereignty Chapter I Article 1 The Oriental Republic of Uruguay is the political association of all inhabitants included within its territory.
    [Show full text]
  • The Term Decentralization Is Used So Commonly And
    Decentralization – Key Issues, Major Trends and Future Developments Lidija R. Basta The term decentralization is used so commonly and Professor at the Institute yet defined so variously that it will be necessary to indicate of Federalism, University its usage in this text with some precision. To begin with, of Fribourg there are two, separable but closely linked themes which cover the issue of decentralization: a) intergovernmental processes, i.e. decentralization of gover- nance between levels of government from federal/central to state/local; b) deregulation, i.e., decentralization from governments to market, quasi-market and non-governmental organizations (the balance of public sector compared with market resource allocation).1 The article will focus on the first dimension and address decen- tralization as a specific concept of state organization and method of governance, including major issues of economic and fiscal decentralization, since this aspect has mainly been understood as decentralization stricto sensu. 28 Decentralization is of itself a relative, rather than absolute con- cept, which can be understood only “against either different nor- mative models or different practical starting points”. When addressing the intergovernmental structures and processes of decentralization, the analytical and empirical approaches are to be combined, taking two facts equally into account: (a) that also when referred to governmental structure and relating functions, the term “decentralization” describes development, (the process of) change from a former to a new institutional set-up; (b) that any categorization of decentralization trends faces the problem of how to conceptually incorporate the influence of the specificity of given local context. The latter has four dimensions: a) the level of economic development, b) the extent of development of representative democracy and experience of democratic systems, c) the structure of the settlement system (urban vs.
    [Show full text]
  • The Cyprus Question and the Role of the UN: an Overall Assessment
    The Cyprus Question and the Role of the UN: An Overall Assessment Andreas Theophanous Odysseas Christou Since its creation the Republic of Cyprus has had a very turbulent history. From the outset the geopolitical implications of the Treaty of Establishment, the Treaty of Alliance, and the Treaty of Guarantee on the one hand and the particular characteristics of the Cold War on the other were not fully understood. Domestic tensions as well as foreign interventions led eventually to the cataclysmic events of the summer of 1974. Fifty years after the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, this island-state faces critical problems and multidimensional challenges.1 The greatest challenge remains the reestablishment of the territorial integrity and unity of the country. Prior to the Turkish invasion of 1974, the basis of the intercommunal negotiations revolved around the establishment of a unitary state with elements of local and communal, self-administration on issues of low level politics. Since the latter part of the 1970s, the model for the solution to the Cyprus problem, according to conventional orthodoxy, has essentially been a bizonal bicommunal federation.2 Yet despite successive and repeated rounds of intercommunal negotiations under the auspices of the UN and the support of the international community there has not been an agreement.3 In fact, the problem remains unresolved while the gap between the two sides is widening. Thus, it is not surprising that to the present day the bizonal bicommunal federation does not yet have a commonly accepted precise definition. Besides it is indeed doubtful whether the implementation of such a model could lead to stability and cooperation.4 Historical Background and Context Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, located approximately 70 km to the south of Turkey.
    [Show full text]
  • Presidential Or Parliamentary Does It Make a Difference? Juan J. Linz
    VrA Democracy: Presidential or Parliamentary Does it Make a Difference? Juan J. Linz Pelatiah Pert Professor of Political and Social Sciences Yale University July 1985 Paper prepared for the project, "The Role of Political Parties in the Return to Democracy in the Southern Cone," sponsored by the Latin American Program of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the World Peace Foundation Copyright © 1985 by Juan J. Linz / INTRODUCTION In recent decades renewed efforts have been made to study and understand the variety of political democracies, but most of those analyses have focused on the patterns of political conflict and more specifically on party systems and coalition formation, in contrast to the attention of many classical writers on the institutional arrangements. With the exception of the large literature on the impact of electorul systems on the shaping of party systems generated by the early writings of Ferdinand Hermens and the classic work by Maurice Duverger, as well as the writings of Douglas Rae and Giovanni Sartori, there has been little attention paid by political scientists to the role of political institutions except in the study of particular countries. Debates about monarchy and republic, parliamentary and presidential regimes, the unitary state and federalism have receded into oblivion and not entered the current debates about the functioning of democra-ic and political institutions and practices, including their effect on the party systems. At a time when a number of countries initiate the process of writing or rewriting constitu­ tions, some of those issues should regain salience and become part of what Sartori has called "political engineering" in an effort to set the basis of democratic consolidation and stability.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparative Analysis Between the Constitutional Processes in Egypt and Tunisia - Lessons Learnt - Overview of the Constitutional Situation in Libya
    DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR EXTERNAL POLICIES OF THE UNION DIRECTORATE B POLICY DEPARTMENT IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESSES IN EGYPT AND TUNISIA - LESSONS LEARNT - OVERVIEW OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL SITUATION IN LIBYA Abstract The 2014 Constitutions of Egypt and Tunisia, though enacted at the same time and as a consequence of very similar revolutionary forces, are different in style and content. Egypt has fallen back to the structures of the 1971 Constitution and will likely experience further restoration of the authoritarian presidentialism. The Armed Forces continue to play a dominant background role in the political and constitutional life of the country. Tunisia seems to have embraced a new constitutional paradigm that is based on a modern approach to human rights protection and a balanced institutional framework that provides for substantial checks and balances between the three branches of government. The constitutional drafting process in Libya is overshadowed by a pronounced lack of security, the absence of functioning state institutions, societal fragmentation, and the uneven distribution of natural wealth. National reconciliation is a key precondition of successful political and constitutional transition but the process has to date been a very difficult one. There are indications, however, that stakeholders in Libya are trying to build consensus on important aspects of the process. The 1951 Constitution, based on a federal framework, offers the best conceptual framework for the recently elected
    [Show full text]
  • Legal Country Mapping
    Legal Country Mapping Republic of Mauritius 08/2020 By: Bryan Ramsamy LEGAL COUNTRY MAPPING, Republic of Mauritius TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER 1: WATER GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW ....................................................................... 4 A- Preliminary questions: ............................................................................................................ 4 B- The country is member of a regional integration organisation? ............................................ 5 C- Water governance and administration: .................................................................................. 8 CHAPTER 2: INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL TREATIES .........................................................10 A. Regional Multilateral/Bilateral Treaties ................................................................................ 10 B. International Treaties ............................................................................................................ 12 Table 3. ILO conventions .......................................................................................................15 C. Regional/Africa ...................................................................................................................... 16 D. Transboundary freshwater resources agreements ............................................................... 17 CHAPTER 3: DOMESTIC LEGISLATION ON WATER ...................................................................18 A-Water law ..............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Public Interaction Fields of Parliament Chambers in the Countries of South
    Revista CIMEXUS Vol. XVI, No.1, 2021 161 Public Interaction Fields of Parliament Chambers in the Countries of South America* Campos de interacción pública de las cámaras del parlamento en los países de América del Sur Anna A. Bezuglya1 Maria P. Afanasieva2 Silva M. Arzumanova3 Maria I. Rosenko4 Lyudmila Yu. Svistunova5 Recibido el 31 de marzo de 2021 Aceptado el 30 de junio de 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.33110/cimexus160110 ABSTRACT This article presents the author’s analysis of the constitutional texts of South American countries regarding the consolidation of universal interaction fields between the chambers of parliaments. In the course of the study, it was found that the typical (universal) interaction fields between the chambers of parlia- ment are represented by the legislative sphere (implemented in the course of adopting laws, holding joint meetings on various occasions); organizational and personnel sphere (provides for the consolidated participation of cham- bers during the formation of public authorities, as well as the appointment of officials); the control sphere, which is represented by three types: personnel and control (related to the implementation of the impeachment procedure against the head of state, resignation of senior state officials, expression of confidence lack in the government), organizational and control (concerns the formation of joint permanent and temporary commissions by the chambers of parliament) and financial control (assumes the consolidated participation of the chambers for the state budget adoption); the international sphere (con- cerns the joint activities of the chambers in the course of the ratification or 1 *The article was prepared with the financial support of the Russian Federation President Grant, project number MK-1377.2020.6, the topic of the project is “The integral role of interaction between the cham- bers of parliament to provide the constitutional right to freedom of speech”, the agreement No.
    [Show full text]
  • State Structure and Electoral Systems in Post-Conflict Situations
    STATE STRUCTURE AND ELECTORAL SYSTEMS IN POST-CONFLICT SITUATIONS Authors Jarrett Blanc Aanund Hylland Kåre Vollan ii PREFACE In contemporary peace processes, almost without exception, the arrangements that bring about transition from conflict to stability include requirements related to elections. These requirements range in level of detail from general calendars to specific, almost legislative requirement for the nature and conduct of the elections. In either case, the electoral requirements are only very rarely subjected to a thorough process of expert review and public consultation. Unintended consequences often result, such as unrealistic timetables (and consequent postponements) in Afghanistan or guarantees for minority representation in Kosovo which, if implemented literally, could have deepened rather than moderated ethnic divisions. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Dayton accord introduced strong protection of the three major parties to the conflict, but at the same time created a government at state level which has had difficulty passing laws and making decisions in a reasonably efficient way. In addition, the protection of other groups has been weak. Post-conflict elections often bring conflicting groups back to the positions that created the conflict in the first place. If well designed and managed, elections can create legitimate political structures which promote conciliation and lead to controversial issues being solved through negotiations. If poorly designed and managed, they can simply restart passionate disputes and undermine the peace process. Careful consideration of the closely related issues of state structure and electoral systems is therefore essential at an early stage of any peace process. Identifying the requirements of state structure and electoral system design – such as protection of minority groups with separate identity at a national or sub-national level – can help to achieve robust political solutions.
    [Show full text]
  • License Agreements
    SLOVAK UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE IN NITRA Faculty of European Studies and Regional Development Department of Law EU INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Innovations and Intellectual Property in various fields of human life Proceedings of papers from an International Scientific Conference DEPARTMENT OF LAW FACULTY OF EUROPEAN STUDIES AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT SLOVAK UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE IN NITRA International Scientific Conference EU INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (Innovations and Intellectual Property in various fields of human life) April 30th 2021 in Nitra Title: EU Intellectual Property (Innovations and Intellectual Property in various fields of human life) Publication type: Conference Proceedings Chairman of scientific committee: doc. JUDr. Ing. Jarmila Lazíková, PhD. Scientific Committee: Dr. habil. Ing. Ľubica Rumanovská, PhD. prof. Leonardo Pastorino prof. JUDr. Karel Marek, CSc. doc. JUDr. Martin Janků, CSc. doc. Ing. Ivan Takáč, PhD. prof. JUDr. Anna Bandlerová, PhD. doc. Ing. Oľga Roháčiková, PhD. doc. JUDr. Lucia Palšová, PhD. doc. Ing. Štefan Buday, PhD. Organizing Committee: doc. JUDr. Ing. Jarmila Lazíková, PhD. Dr. habil. Ing. Ľubica Rumanovská, PhD. Ing. Zina Machničová Book reviewers: doc. JUDr. Ing. Jarmila Lazíková, PhD.; Dr. habil. Ľubica Rumanovská, PhD.; doc. Ing. Ivan Takáč, PhD.; prof. JUDr. Anna Bandlerová, PhD. Edited by: doc. JUDr. Ing. Jarmila Lazíková, PhD.; Dr. habil. Ľubica Rumanovská, PhD. The international scientific conference is funded from the European Union Project Jean Monnet Module EU Intellectual Property no. 599683-EPP-1-2018-1-SK-EPPJMO- MODULE, and supported by World Union of Agricultural Law - Union Mondiale des Agraristes Uniersitaires (UMAU). This publication was approved by the Rector of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra on 3rd June, 2021 as a proceedings of papers from a scientific conference on a CD.
    [Show full text]
  • Official Language Designation
    Official Language Designation Constitution-Building Primer 20 Official Language Designation International IDEA Constitution-Building Primer 20 Sujit Choudhry and Erin C. Houlihan © 2021 International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance International IDEA publications are independent of specific national or political interests. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of International IDEA, its Board or its Council members. The electronic version of this publication is available under a Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) licence. You are free to copy, distribute and transmit the publication as well as to remix and adapt it, provided it is only for non-commercial purposes, that you appropriately attribute the publication, and that you distribute it under an identical licence. For more information visit the Creative Commons website: <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/>. Cover illustration: © 123RF, <http://123rf.com> Design and layout: International IDEA DOI: <https://doi.org/10.31752/idea.2021.40> ISBN: 978-91-7671-412-6 (PDF) Created with Booktype: <https://www.booktype.pro> Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 6 Defining ‘official’ and ‘national’ languages .............................................................. 6 Advantages and risks ............................................................................................... 7 Where
    [Show full text]
  • The Case for Effective Environmental Politics: Federalist Or Unitary State? Comparing the Cases of Canada, the United States Of
    University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform Volume 51 2018 The Case for Effective Environmental Politics: Federalist or Unitary State? Comparing the Cases of Canada, the United States of America, and the People’s Republic of China Justin Fisch Centre for International Sustainable Development Law Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjlr Part of the Comparative and Foreign Law Commons, Environmental Law Commons, and the Law and Politics Commons Recommended Citation Justin Fisch, The Case for Effective Environmental Politics: Federalist or Unitary State? Comparing the Cases of Canada, the United States of America, and the People’s Republic of China, 51 U. MICH. J. L. REFORM 777 (2018). Available at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjlr/vol51/iss4/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform at University of Michigan Law School Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform by an authorized editor of University of Michigan Law School Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE CASE FOR EFFECTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS: FEDERALIST OR UNITARY STATE? COMPARING THE CASES OF CANADA, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Justin Fisch* ABSTRACT Federalism, by its nature, is a segmented system of governance. The Canadian and American constitutional orders are divided along very clear lines of jurisdictional authority between levels of government. Environmental issues, by their nature, are holistic in scope—they transcend borders, governments, jurisdictions, and authorities.
    [Show full text]
  • Are Unitary Systems Better Than Federal Systems?
    Are Federal Systems Better than Unitary Systems? ABSTRACT Much has been written about the putative virtues and vices of federal and unitary systems of government, but little empirical testing of the impact of such systems on the quality of governance has been conducted. Do federal or unitary systems promote better social, political and economic outcomes? The paper takes up a series of theoretical debates put forth by advocates of federalism, including competition among subnational governments, fiscal federalism, veto points, accountability, and the size of government. In each case, there is room for doubt about the practical impact of federalism on governance. The paper then conducts a series of cross-national empirical tests over several decades of the impact of unitary systems on fifteen indicators of political, economic and human development. In most cases, a strong empirical relationship between unitarism and good governance obtains. To the extent that these constitutional structures make a difference, unitary systems appear to hold distinct advantages over federal ones. John Gerring Strom C. Thacker Carola Moreno Boston University Boston University Boston University Department of Political Science Department of International Relations Department of Economics 232 Bay State Road 152 Bay State Road 270 Bay State Road Boston MA 02215 Boston MA 02215 Boston MA 02215 617-353-2756 617-353-7160 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] DRAFT: Please do not quote or cite without authors’ permission. Comments welcome! June 22, 2007 Decentralization is, quite possibly, the dominant political trend of our time. Significant devolutions of authority from national to subnational levels have occurred in Africa (e.g., Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana), Asia (e.g., Bangladesh, India), Europe (e.g., Belgium, Britain, France, Italy, and Spain), and Latin America (e.g., Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico).1 Several new democracies have emerged with explicit constitutional guarantees for sub-state authorities (e.g., Russia and the European Union).
    [Show full text]