Interface among Local Government,

Democracy and Good Governance

Lecture 02

PA 211

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 Local Government
&
Local Governance
Local Government is a political unit for a small geographic area,
such as a city, town, county, or state.
A local government will typically only have control over their
specific geographical region, and can not pass or enforce laws
that will affect a wider area.
Local governments can elect officials, enact taxes, and do many
other things that a national government would do, just on a
smaller scale.

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Local Government refers to a political subdivision of a
nation or state which is constituted by law and has
substantial control of local affairs including the power
to impose taxes or exact labor for prescribed purpose.
The governing body of such an entity is elected or
locally selected.

 It is some form of government.

 It serves a small area.
 It exercises only the delegated powers.

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Local government refers to specific institutions or
entities created by national constitutions (Brazil,
Denmark, France, India, Italy, Japan, Sweden), by
state constitutions (Australia, the United States), by
ordinary legislation of a higher level of central
government (Bangladesh, New Zealand, the United
Kingdom, most countries), by provincial or state
legislation (Canada, Pakistan), or by executive order
(China) to deliver a range of specified services to a
relatively small geographically delineated area.
Local governance is a broader concept and is defined as
the formulation and execution of collective action at
the local level.
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Local governance encompasses the direct and indirect
roles of formal institutions of local government and
government hierarchies, as well as the roles of
informal norms, networks, community
organizations, and neighborhood associations in
pursuing collective action by defining the
framework for citizen-citizen and citizen-state
interactions, collective decision making, and
delivery of local public services.

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 Democracy
“Democracy”, as defined in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org), “in its
ideal sense is the notion that ‘the people’ should have control of the
government ruling over them. This ideal is pursued by implementing a
system of voting such that the majority of people rule, either directly or
indirectly through elected representatives.
Democracies may be ‘liberal’, where fundamental rights of individuals in
the minority are protected by law, or they may be ‘illiberal’ where they
are not.
Democracy is often implemented as a form of government in which policy
is decided by the preference of the real majority (as opposed to a partial
or relative majority of the demos/citizens) in a decision-making process,
usually elections or referenda, open to all.

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Democracy is system of government with the following
attributes:

A. There are institutions and procedures through which citizens

can express effective preferences about alternative policies at
the national level and there are institutionalized constraints on
the exercise of power by the executive (competition);

B. There exists inclusive suffrage and a right of participation in

the selection of national leaders and policies
(inclusiveness/participation).

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Some consider democracy as a set of values and governance as a
process of interaction among three sets of actors, from the
State, civil society and the private sector, which implies
governance based on fundamental and universally accepted
principles, including: participation, accountability,
transparency, rule of law, separation of powers, access,
subsidiary, equality and freedom of the press.

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 Local Government Facilitates Democracy
1) People practice democracy at the time of electing their
local leaders/ representatives.
2) Local government system helps to raise political
awareness among the local people. It also raise their
sense of belongingness.
3) The demand and interest of people are reflected by the
local government system.
4) People can participate in the public policy formulation
and implementation process through local
government.

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 Good Governance
Good Governance entails sound public sector management
(efficiency, effectiveness and economy), accountability,
exchange and free flow of information (transparency), and a
legal framework for development (justice, respect for human
rights and liberties).

It means creating an effective political framework conducive to

private economic action: stable regimes, the rule of law,
efficient State administration adapted to the roles that
Governments can actually perform and a strong civil society
independent of the State.

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 Four Pillars of Governance (World Bank)
Accountability
To be accountable to those who will be affected by the decision or
actions.
Transparency
Decisions taken and actions performed should follow the rules and
regulations; information is available and accessible.
Predictability
Laws are clear and effectively enforced. Situation could be predicted
in advance.
Participation
Participation of beneficiaries, private-public interface,
decentralization, empowerment of Local Government etc.

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 Effective
Governance
Model

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 A strong and efficient local government is a
pre-requisite to good governance.

local government institutions can enforce accountability of the

central/national government authorities.

The more aware, vigilant and active the community becomes

through its participation in local government bodies, the
greater is the pressure on both local government institutions
and the government authorities to become transparent and
responsive.

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The potential of local government institutions can be realized more
effectively where there is decentralization and devolution of power.
Accountability, transparency, participation, empowerment, equity and
all other attributes of good governance can become a part of the
daily work of both the government and local bodies when
decentralization and devolution take place.
Without decentralization and devolution, local government bodies
remain paper organizations without any effective role.
It is no exaggeration to say that it is in a decentralized local
government system that most of the attributes of good governance
have a chance to survive and prosper. Strengthening of local
government institutions can, therefore, be seen as a positive trend
towards good governance.

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Effective local government relies on public confidence in elected
councilors and appointed officers.
Good governance strengthens credibility and confidence in our
public services.
The function of governance is to ensure that authorities, other
local government organizations or connected partnerships
fulfill their purpose and achieve their intended outcomes for
citizens and service users and operate in an effective, efficient,
economic and ethical manner.
All authorities should aim to meet the standards of the best and
governance arrangements should not only be sound but be
seen to be sound.

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All successive governments in Bangladesh felt the need to have
viable local government for ensuring effective governance. As
a result, we have seen 'decentralization' as an important policy
agenda of all governments.
The repetitive process of local government reform has been
handed down to Bangladesh from Pakistan as a post-colonial
extension.
However, the necessity to reform the existing structure of local
government by various successive governments in Bangladesh
indicates their failure to create effective institutions for
enhancing local democracy and delivering development
programmes.

The End
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