Developmental Local Government : From Concept to Praxis

Abstract

Developmental local government (DLG) is borne out of a complex of socio-economic and political processes marked by democratization, marketization, and decentralization. It represents a new approach to the pursuit of collective welfare and developmental goals, leveraged by ideas that favour a redefinition of the role of the state and government and, importantly, the transfer of functions of the state and government to other actors. Decentralization of authority and responsibility below the ‘centre’ is linked to the governance paradigm and thus provides conceptual support for the perceived essentiality of local government to the creation of a democratic polity. Contemporaneously, trends in decentralization have been specific to meeting economic development ends evidenced in the decentreing development discourse that makes assumptions about the role of sub-national government. This chapter examines how the relationship between local government and development is structured to answer the question, What is developmental local government? The ABC region of Sao Paulo in Brazil and the West Bengal state of Eastern India are useful illustrations in this regard. These countries’ experiences with the evolution and institutionalization of a development focus in local government offer critical lessons about political context and the stimuli for change as well as variations in practice.