The rise and fall of decentralization: A comparative analysis of arguments and practices in European countries

This paper addresses the arguments in favour ofboth the decentralization andcentralization of publicpolicy making. It points out that the same argumentsare sometimesused to advance either claim and that indifferent countries opposite arguments are used tosupport the same claim. Clearly, the inherent featuresof centralization and decentralization are far fromobvious. A closer look at the attention given to theissue by political parties at the national level infour European countries reveals that decentralizationbecomes an issue in these countries at differentperiods and as a cause of different arguments, whichrather reflect the dominant values in the politicalculture than refer to inherent properties of decentralizationitself. An analysis of opinions of local elites points at therelation between their opinion on decentralizing responsibilitiesin a specific field and the support for existing institutionalarrangements, their own influence in the policy field andthe predisposition towards decentralization tendencies. Thisresults in the conclusion that the support for decentralizationtendencies is more closely related to existing specific institutionalarrangements, and to the degree to which it is expected to influenceone's own position, than to its inherent merits.