Question: Answer ALL the questions in this section. WHY DECENTRALISATION? Democratic societies, may be characterized by a considerable discrepancy between the formal rules and their actual
Answer ALL the questions in this section. WHY DECENTRALISATION? Democratic societies, may be characterized by a considerable discrepancy between the formal rules and their actual implementation, especially as seen from the point of view of resource weak citizens. Even though a democratic form of government does not in itself guarantee the protection of the rights of the citizens, it should, on the other hand, be added that military regimes and other autocratic forms of regime normally imply that such a protection of rights is not even encouraged by the authorities. Decentralisation should be regarded as a form of empowerment, where a democratic institution could be instituted and where leaders and managers are able to protect its core functions and business. The decentralisation of power and authority reduces overload and congestion in the channels of communication within the central government machinery. Monaheng contends that it enables an organisation to obtain better and more reliable information about local conditions and able to react more quickly to unanticipated problems in the implementation of local development projects. In the normal course of governance and development, the concept of decentralisation is relevant to a wide range of economic, political and social activities. It is, however, argued that the importance of decentralisation centres on its connotation as an essential mechanism for achieving specific administrative objectives and the resultant procedural implications, particularly in respect of relations established by this means. There is an argument that decentralisation can enhance the accountability and transparency of public institutions in policy-making by bringing expenditure assignments closer to revenue sources and hence to the citizenry. The quality of service provision can also be enhanced by decentralisation since subnational governments will be more sensitive to variations in local requirements and receptive to feedback from the users of services. Decentralisation is necessary to improve achieved effectively through decentralisation. Decentralisation and devolution have been pursued to improve the working environment and to encourage innovative ways to increase efficiency and improve service delivery. The responsiveness of government to the needs of the people, and to create an effective institutional framework for supporting people-centred development. Under a decentralised system, good governance ensures that public resources are effectively and efficiently managed. In addition, it must also ensure effective and sustainable resource mobilisation and its efficient use. In this regard government and public institutions must ensure greater transparency, predictability, and accountability in the decision-making process .In governance, decentralisation is the dissemination of functions and authority from the national government to subnational or sub organisational units and is regarded as a necessary component of democracy and good governance. In public management it refers to the transfer of authority, for example, planning and decision-making, or administratively from a centralised public authority to its field organisations, local administrative units, local governments, or non-governmental organisations.
The considerations in much of the literature about decentralization take as their starting point the efforts to strengthen the mobilization of resources and secure a better utilization of these towards improving service delivery and socio economic development. Initially, disregarding any addition of new resources and concentrating on improved utilization of the resources available, a central question how the responsibilities and tasks can best be allocated between the different public bodies, and between these and the private enterprises and organizations. There is considerable debate over which specific criteria should be used in determining the most appropriate allocation of responsibilities and functions. It is commonly agreed however, that at least the following two criteria should be applied: ? Effectiveness, that is the degree to which a stated objective or condition is achieved or maintained and ? Efficiency which refers to the quantity of resources expended in the effort to achieve a stated objective or condition. This criterion basically implies cost minimization for attaining specific degrees of goal achievement.
Source: (https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/58108/Nzimakwe_Enhancing_2014.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y).
QUESTION 1 (20 Marks) In the narrative it is argued that decentralisation should be regarded as a form of empowerment, where a democratic institution could be instituted and where leaders and managers are able to protect its core functions and business. Critically discuss the strategies for decentralization. QUESTION 2 (20 Marks) In the narrative it is argued that a democratic form of government does not in itself guarantee the protection of the rights of the citizens. Critically discuss the prospects, governability and human rights as preconditions for the setting of development objectives, to ensure broad participation and legitimacy in developing countries QUESTION 3 [20 Marks] When the New Institutional Economics (NIE) are reviewed in connection with the political economy approaches, it is because they share an interest in studying economic phenomena within a wider societal context. Examine the New Institutional Economics and clearly show its applicability to contemporary politics of the state and public bureaucracy. QUESTION 4 [20 Marks] Goran Hydens most important work appeared as early as 1983 with the incisive title No Shortcuts to Progress. Hayden formulated a number of theoretical foundations of the state and the economy of affection. Critically discuss these theories. QUESTION 5 [20 Marks] Examine and explain the meaning of political development, and the influence of political modernisation theories of Almond and Coleman on the political development for African Countries.
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