Decentralization and Party Politics in the Dominican Republic

is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. Recently in the Dominican Republic, a pro-municipal social alliance pressed for decentralization and politicians yielded, seeking power in three-party competition. This study examines how electoral, financial, and administrative power has been dispersed and suggests innovative strategies to maintain decentralizing momentum. Why would a famously centralized Latin American state begin to re-distribute political power to cities and towns? In the Dominican Republic in the years between 1994 and 2008, a pro-municipal social alliance pressed for decentralization and politicians yielded, seeking power in three-party competition. Reformers utilized the central dynamics of a patrimonial system in order to reform it as rival parties and factions formed a series of shifting temporary alliances on municipal issues. Based on contemporary files and more than 60 interviews with participants, this study examines how electoral, financial, and administrative power has been dispersed. Non-concurrent local elections made municipal political leaders more autonomous; new laws multiplied central revenue-sharing twelve-fold; the centralist Ministry of Municipalities was greatly weakened; and participatory budgeting became mandatory nation-wide. The analysis also documents the continuing power of centralist political forces and suggests innovative strategies to maintain decentralizing momentum Front Matter....Pages i-xii Introduction....Pages 1-5 Measures and Initiatives Favoring Decentralization, 1994–2008....Pages 6-12 The Deep Roots and Local Consequences of Dominican Centralism....Pages 13-21 A Decentralizing Coalition Finds Political Leverage....Pages 22-41 Party Alliances, the Municipios, and Decentralization....Pages 42-71 Dominican Decentralization Moves toward Maturity, 1996–2013....Pages 72-95 Pushback against Decentralization, and Its Links with Infl uence over Nominations....Pages 96-111 Assessing Alternative Explanations of Dominican Decentralization....Pages 112-117 Pro-decentralization Strategies for the Future....Pages 118-126 Back Matter....Pages 127-137 Measures And Initiatives Favoring Decentralization, 1994-2008 -- The Deep Roots And Local Consequences Of Dominican Centralism -- A Decentralizing Coalition Finds Political Leverage -- Party Alliances, The Municipios, And Decentralization -- Dominican Decentralization Moves Toward Maturity, 1996-2013 -- Pusback Against Decentralization, And Its Links With Influence Over Nominations -- Assessing Alternative Explanations Of Dominican Decentralization -- Pro-decentralization Strategies For The Future. Christopher Mitchell. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 127-132) And Index.