<p>'Lovise Aalen and Ragnhild Muriaas provide a timely and thorough analysis of how incumbent elites can employ strategies that undermine decentralisation. ... Well-written and carefully researched, this book provides important insights into the politics of decentralisation and a much-needed note of caution to those who expect decentralisation to limit political capture.' –<em>Ellen Lust, Yale University</em></p><p>'Although there is broad recognition that subnational elections need not generate the expected benefits of local democracy, Aalen and Muriaas provide an unusually thorough, systematic, and grounded analysis of the factors and dynamics that shape the relationship between decentralisation and democracy. This work is invaluable to scholars and practitioners interested in understanding the forms, roles, and potential effects of political decentralisation in Africa and beyond.' <br />–<em>Paul Smoke, New York University</em></p>
Produktdetaljer
Biographical note
Lovise Aalen is a Political Scientist and Research Director at Chr. Michelsen Institute. Her research interests include institutional solutions in divided societies, including power sharing, federalism, and decentralisation. She has explored the impact of introducing ethnic federalism in Ethiopia, and has demonstrated how ethnic-based federalism was an important tool for the ruling party to gain legitimacy, control, and support across ethnic groups, thereby sustaining the national government rather than deepening democracy.
Ragnhild L. Muriaas is Professor in Political Science at the University of Bergen and an Associated Senior Researcher at Chr. Michelsen Institute. Her key research interest is explaining variation in the inclusionary aspects of African regimes. She has led international research projects and published extensively on topics related to political decentralisation, traditional authorities, and women’s representation in Malawi, Uganda, South Africa, and Zambia.