Politico-bureaucratic relations in the context of decentralization: Understanding conflicts and outcomes in Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia

Decentralization reforms in the Global South have witnessed a surge since the 1980s, embraced by governments and international donors as a solution to myriad problems from poor public services and territorial inequalities to corruption and low public trust. Decentralization reforms have been introduced across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Many of these reforms are strongly supported by international donors on the assumption that they promote citizen participation, accountability and local development.

However, there is little empirical assessment of whether decentralization reforms are, in fact, achieving these purported benefits.

Following decentralization reforms in the MENA in the past decade, prominent conflicts have taken place between appointed and elected subnational officials.

The researcher's own PhD research on the politics of decentralization reforms in Tunisia in 2011-19 suggests that decentralization reforms and the entry of thousands of elected local councillors into politics is challenging the existing distribution of power between elected local politicians and centrally-appointed regional or municipal officials.

Conflicts between these two groups and their outcomes have significant implications for both the democratic and developmental benefits of decentralization.

This research project seeks to identify to what extent decentralization reforms serve to redistribute decision-making power from central government to local elected representatives, and under what conditions.

Specifically, it asks when and why appointed central government representatives and local elected officials come into conflict following decentralization, and under which conditions local elected officials are able to successfully resist bureaucratic opposition where conflict occurs, thus asserting local autonomy.

These questions are central to reform processes that can deliver tangible improvements for the lives of millions.