Administrative Decentralization: Strategies for Developing Countries [Paperback]

John M. Cohen (Author), Stephen B. Peterson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1999

* Examines administrative decentralization strategies in developing countries
* Case studies include Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mexico
* Written in cooperation with the United Nations

Cohen and Peterson have created a practical and theoretically rich look at administrative decentralization from the past four decades, with a focus on the problems confronting developing countries since the 1990s. This groundbreaking work debates the role of administrative systems--including institutional monopolies and pluralistic states--in implementing decentralization strategies and reforms.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Cohen and Peterson break the fetters that our established ways of thinking about decentralization have created [offering] a new approach. -- David K. Leonard, University of California at Berkeley

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Kumarian Press (August 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565490967
• ISBN-13: 978-1565490963
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,099,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars informative reading, September 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Administrative Decentralization: Strategies for Developing Countries (Paperback)

Cohen and Peterson attempts to make the argument that the lack of role definition has led to failures in decentralization efforts in the third world. Current efforts have focused on system wide changes/decentralization, and assumes the roles the actors have after the changes will take care of itself.

They provide case studies from various countries to show how they perform using various decentralization schemes. Without giving too much away, the Mexico case is an example of what the authors deem as what other countries should strive for in decentralization.

Their chapter on the evolution of decentralization and the case studies was very informative. When they elaborated on administrative concepts, it is very easy for a person not involved in the development administration field to get lost in the jargon and forget what the whole point of the chapter was. This book is not designed for the person looking for a good international development read.

The conclusion is sketchy and not very convincing that is why I give it 3 stars.