Powersharing
... to improve power-sharing
Decentralisation is seen as a means to provide for political institutions closer to citizens, with own decision-making powers at the local level, locally elected, and catering to the local level. Thus decentralisation is expected to create the public space for democratic participation and public accountability at the local level, and often it is hoped that there will be a spill-over effect at national level.
Decentralisation can also be a means to create a new power-balance by sharing power, in particular between the centre and the different regions of the state (vertical power-sharing). In many cases, decentralisation is promoted specifically for the purpose of power-sharing (see also conflict transformation) in order (1) to strengthen local power holders, promote local governance accountable to a local constituency and foster internal self-determination and with it (2) to create a counter-balance to the centre. It can provide new entry-points for citizens into politics and thus create new opportunities and diversify the political playing field.
Decentralisation does not necessarily provide for horizontal power-sharing or joint decision-making. This is one difference between federalism and decentralisation. In federations, constituent units participate in the decision-making at the centre, normally through representation in a second chamber of parliament (shared rule). In federalism, horizontal power-sharing is supposed to provide a centripetal counter-effect to the centrifugal one that is sometimes experiences with self-rule arrangements. Decentralisation can be and frequently is combined with additional (horizontal) power-sharing mechanisms at all levels of government.
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