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Theoretical Approaches of Local Government: Finding Applicable Approaches

to Analyze Bangladesh's Local Governance

Article · November 2023

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Theoretical Approaches of Local Government:

Finding Applicable Approaches to Analyze
Bangladesh’s Local Governance

Course Name: Local Government and Decentralization

Course Code: PA-123

Prepared By:

Sumaiya Akter Shanta

Department of Public Administration

University of Dhaka
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Introduction:

Local government is the universal term practiced to express transforming power from central
government to local authorities. It is essential for its emphasis upon the independence of the
locality to decide and act. People of this globalized world considered that the existence of local
government is inescapable to authorize democracy at the grass-root level. Local governance
needs to happen when people live in a community and have sufficiently close interactions
(Crawford, 1999; 15). Indeed, the significance of the LG institutions is immense because of their
contribution to ensuring decentralization of government. This research paper is mainly about
different theoretical approaches to study the field of LG. There are many theoretical approaches
to LG. These theoretical approaches help to understand the LG bodies carefully and indicate
different ideas to establish proper local governance. This paper or essay is divided into four
parts. In the first part, it’s going to discuss the local government. Secondly, it’s going to explain
different theoretical approaches of LG namely liberal-democratic theory,the economic
interpretation of LG, radical elite theory, and Marxist interpretation. Thirdly,the paper is going to
analyze these theoretical approaches and will recommend approaches that are more applicable
for defining Bangladesh’s local governance than any other approach. Moreover,it’ll also discuss
the reasons why those approaches are applicable for analyzing BD’s local governance. At last,
this paper will conclude the essay with conclusion.

Definition of Local government:

Local government is the government of distinct local areas consulting a subdivision of a

considerable political unit. In the view of a scholar like Wraith, local government refers to
locally elected councils whose main purpose is to provide or administer services with a great
degree of independence as modern circumstances allow. According to L. Golding, ” Local
Government is the management of their own affairs by the people of a locality”(Golding,
1959:19). It is interesting to note that the significance of the LG institution is boundless
because of its contribution to establishing a decentralized form of government. Moreover,LG
serves as a communication tool between the central government and the people and ensures
participation of people in the decision-making process.

Theoretical Approaches to Local Government:

Approach indicates the process of going towards something. An approach to study the field of
local government is a distinct strategy for studying LG. There are four considerable theoretical
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schools on LG, namely liberal-democratic theory, economic interpretation, radical-elite theory

and Marxist interpretation. These approaches are briefly discussed below:

● Liberal-democratic theory of LG:

The Liberal-democratic theory is based on liberalism which is a political and social
philosophy that promotes individual rights, civil liberties, and democracy. It suggests that
a democratic local government is perfect for organizing local administration of public
services. By following this theory,the government can devolve the function and resources
from the center to the elected representatives at the lower levels and can ensure
democratic decentralization. Moreover,this theory claims that LG is good for national
democracy because it ensures the direct participation of citizens in governance. The first
function which the LG has to perform for the democratic state is political education for
citizens. LG takes its services to people’s doorstep and enables the citizens to have a
feeling of contact with the government. It also acts as a training ground for future
statesmen and politicians (Zahur, A.M.B.S, 2007, The Daily Star). Thus, LG ensures
political education for citizens and makes people politically conscious. Democratic
decentralization is said to contribute to the establishment of better societies, social
harmony, community spirit, and political stability. Local democracy provides extra
opportunities for citizens to participate in public policy-making which strengthens
political equality.
On the other hand, political power and the social construction of the target population
create central dominance over local affairs. Schneider and Ingram (1993) give the theory
of social construction of targeted population where they divide different social
constructions into four types. They are advantaged, contenders, dependents, and
deviants. Advantaged and contenders have strong political power and also can take part
in decision-making. On the other hand, dependents and deviants have weak political
power and can’t play any role in decision making process. The advantaged and the
dependents have positive social constructions but the contenders and the deviants have
negative social constructions. As democratic LG controls the exercise of political power
by the rule of law, dependents, and deviants can also take part in decision-making. So, it
can be concluded that democratic LG protects individual rights and freedom.

● Economic interpretation of LG:

The Economic interpretation approach of local government proposes that individuals
choose their place of residence by comparing packages of services and taxes provide by

different municipalities. It relates to rational choice theory.Rational choice theory

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suggests that individuals are motivated by the goals that express their preferences and
calculating the likely cost and benefits before any actor,they choose the alternatives that
give them the greatest satisfaction (Scott,2000). Therefore, a rational person will locate
him where he finds the best combination of services and taxes. Also, the individual
should be able to leave the place if he feels disappointed with the benefits received from
the locality. Moreover,he can also move to the locality where the level and mix of services
are relative to his preferences.
According to the approach, the Local government ensures responsiveness and efficiency.
The public choice approach proceeds from the assumption that a diversity of individual
preferences needs to be matched by the diversity of goods and services (Siddiqui, K.,
1994). In this case, LG informs the citizens about the available alternative packages. As
the services and goods are public, everyone can enjoy them. Moreover,LG bears all the
costs of providing goods and services. Thus, LG supplies the goods and services
according to the citizen’s preferences and ensures efficiency and responsiveness.
Additionally, individual preference is the main concern of this theory and it gives less
importance to family preferences. The assumption that an individual is the best judge for
his or her own interest conflicts with the fact that family decisions have to compromise
between the different realities of different members of a household standing in different
relations to the system of taxation, and consuming different services(Siddiqui, K., 1994).
As a result, individuals choose their place of residence giving much importance to their
own preferences, likely social environment, cost of mobility, work opportunities above
family preferences.
● Radical-Elite theory of LG:
The radical-elite theory of LG suggests that local and central governments have
patron-client relationships between them. The patron-client relationship or clientelism is
a dyadic (two persons) ties involving instrumental friendship in which an individual of
high socioeconomic status (patron) uses his/her own influences and resources to
protection or benefits, or both for a person of lower status (client) who’s for his/her part
reciprocates by offering general support and assistance, including personal services to
patron (Koufanove, 1974 in Sarker, 2008). Consequently, the radical elite theory
recommends that the central government plays the role of a national elite or patron and
retains the higher socio-economic status. Instead, the LG plays the role of a local elite or
client and retains the lower socio-economic status. Moreover,National elites and local
elites maintain patron-client relationships by networks of patronage and clientelism.
National elites give protection to local elites by providing essential funds and resources,
shifting the load of decision-making. Thus, regional elites can exploit local interests and
can manage their political roles effectively.In return, local elites also give benefits to
patrons by providing support during elections.
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● Marxist Interpretation of LG:

Marx’s interest revolved around the central state and there is no widespread Marxist
theory of local government. During the capitalism or capital mode of production, the
capital state is a comparative instrument of class domination through monopoly
capitalism. Monopoly capitalism refers to an environment where the central state
intervenes in the economy to protect big businesses from threats. As a result, when
monopoly capitalism becomes the dominant of the state, the central government controls
local government as a residual element. For example, in order to protect the profitability
of urban investments, monopoly capital needs heavy costs on services. To do this, it needs
access to the resources of LG. Thus, the Central government governs the LG as a residual
element.
Furthermore, during capitalism monopoly capital and the working-class both demand
centralization in their pursuit of egalitarian and redistributive objectives. Then the
central government plays the role of the ruling class. As a result, the central government
exploits the local government as a ruled class. The central government with the help of
big businesses decentralizes the resources to LG. It gives work to big businesses to do the
work of LG in order to keep LG underdeveloped. Thus, the central government earns a
profit by keeping LG underdeveloped and hampers the redistribution of the resources.
The central government also decentralizes resources to LG to withdraw from class
responsibility for problems in depressed and backward areas. Ultimately, social
movements and collective interest are the main concerns within specific historical forms
of Marxist interpretation.

The results of the explanations of different theoretical approaches of local government indicate
that the liberal-democratic theory and radical elite theory are more applicable for analyzing
Bangladesh’s local governance.

Applicability of liberal-democratic theory in Bangladesh’s local governance:

Liberal-democratic theory concerns representative democracy and Bangladesh’s local

governance also follows the democratic system of government. Local government of Bangladesh
ensures people participation, individual rights and freedom by controlling the exercise of political
power through rule of law. People’s participation is the process by which members of a society
share power with public officials in making substantive decisions and in taking actions related to
the community (Roberts, 2004). In Bangladesh, Upazila Parishads have several direct (when
citizens are personally involved and actively engaged) and indirect (when citizens elect others to
represents them) avenues of proper participation which makes the local government more
accountable and transparent to the community (Local Government Division, 2009;
CPD).Therefore, the LG of Bangladesh provides citizens an opportunity in participation in
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public-policy making. It also ensures training ground for local leaders and political education for
citizens. As a result, the local governance system of BD removes the educational barrier of
different dependents and deviants who can’t take part in public policy-making. As a consequence,
all the characteristics of liberal-democratic theory reflect in BD’s local governance. So, it can be
said that liberal-democratic theory is more applicable for analyzing BD’s local governance.

Applicability of radical elite theory in Bangladesh’s local governance:

The base of radical elite theory is patron and client relationships between national elites and
local elites. In Bangladesh’s local governance system, the LG of BD plays the role of client and
receives essential resources and funds from the central government to perform essential local
political roles. On the other hand, in return the central government or national elites receives
protection and different information from LG or clients. The central government has to perform
many functions. However, it is unable to accomplish several tasks in different circumstances,
which is why the central government created a local government (Kan, 2009). For this reason, the
radical elite theory is also suitable for analyzing Bangladesh’s local governance.

Conclusion:

Local government is an important part of the state. It plays significant roles in establishing
democracy at the national level. It also reduces the workload of the central government.
Moreover,the different theoretical approaches of LG help to understand the local government
bodies more carefully. According to liberal-democratic theory, democratic LG is best for arranging
local administration of public services. However, Economic interpretation of LG suggests that the
LG government ensures efficiency by giving more importance to individual preferences. Besides,
the radical elite theory and Marxist interpretation are concerned with social movements and
collective interests. Among these different theoretical approaches, liberal-democratic theory and
radical elite theory are more applicable for analyzing Bangladesh local governance systems.
Bangladesh’s local government follows the democratic system of government and ensures proper
participation of people.

References

▪ Siddiqui, K., 1994. Local government in Bangladesh. Univ Pr Ltd. ▪ Otoghile, A.

and Edigin, L.U., 2011. Local government administration and development: a
survey of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. African Research
Review, 5(3).
▪ Bhuiyan, J.H., 2011. Local government system in Bangladesh: An assessment.
Journal of the Indian Law Institute, pp.96-108.
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▪ Schneider, A. and Ingram, H., 1993. Social construction of target populations:

Implications for politics and policy. American political science review, 87(2),
pp.334-347.
▪ Akter, S. and Mamun, M.M.H., Original Paper Analysis of the Link between
Central Government and Local Government in Bangladesh: A Case Study of
Union Parishad.
▪ Uddin, N., 2019. Empowerment though participation in local governance: the
case of Union Parishad in Bangladesh. Public Administration and Policy. ▪
Honadle, B.W.,2001. Theoretical and Practical Issues of Local Government
Capacity in an Era of Devolution. Journal of Regional Analysis & Policy,31(1),
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▪ Zahur,A.B.M.S. (2007) “Importance of local government”,The daily Star.
Available: https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-14217 [Accessed: 14
January 2021]