Definitions Flashcards
Decentralisation
Transfer of power from the national government to local authorities.
These authorities govern subnational units iwth a degree of autonomy from the national level. This autonomy and the contribution of those authorities to decision making processes can vary depending on the context.
The State remains unitary, meaning there is a single government, parliament and jurisdictional system
Deconcentration
Refers to institutional designs where the central authority delegates decision making powers to one or more of its local agents. The state remains unitary and power is redistributed within the same public entity
Regionalisation/Devolution
Power is transferred to regions who are granted more autonomy than with decentralisation. The State is still unitary, with a single constitution/legal order, but several authorities are involved in drafting standards. Regional power can be asymmetrical.
Federalism
Form of organisation in which each member (state) enjoys a high degree of autonomy and delegates some of its powers to a federal body.
Federalism is based on the logic of superimposition
Legislative, judicial and administrative powers are shared between federal government and federated states
Contrary to unitary states, in federal states multiple executive, legislative and jurisdictional orders co-exist.
Accountability
Political actors have to answer for their actions, decisions and policy
Responsiveness
How well governments, institutions and actors react to needs, demands and concerns of citizens.
Representation
The process of which elected officials act on the behalf of the people in decision making. It means that different groups in society have a voice in governance and their interests and needs and preferences are reflected in public policy.
Participation
Involvement of individuals or groups in decision making and governance.
Citizens actively engaging without pressure or fear of repression
There might be structural barriers to participation like institutional design or discrimination
Clientelism and Patronage
Patron-clientelism is a system of informal relationships where a powerful person (the patron) provides resources, protection, or favors to less powerful individuals (the clients) in exchange for loyalty and support.
Neo-patrimonialism
Neo-patrimonialism is a mix of personal rule and modern bureaucracy—where state officials use public resources for private gain, blurring the lines between government and personal power.
Institutional complexity
Refers to the degree of intricacy in the structure, rules and interactions of political, administrative and governance systems.
Autonomy
The ability to self govern
Subnational authoritarianism
This concept refers to the existence of authoritarian regimes or practices within subnational units of a formally democratic country
Venue Selection
Strategic process by which political actors choose the most favourable institutional or policy making setting to pursue their objectives
