Decentralization, Protest, and Corruption

Unitary System

power resides in central authority, subunits of gov. exist at the pleasure of central authority

• small geographic location (bc more likely to have homogenous opinions)

• UK (w/ devolution*, China, Iran)

Federal system

unites separate states/ other polities. share power w/ national gov + states

• large geographic location + population

• divided

• diverse groups

• local needs to cater to

• Russia, Mexico, Nigeria

Devolution

transfer of power from central gov to subnational (can enhance/reduce legitimacy)

Uk Devolution Issues 

• asymmetrical devolution

• power of UK parliament over regional parliaments

• West Lothian question

• ongoing calls for independence

• only Scotland has a certain policies —> inequality, spending&fiscal policy don’t math

• Disagreement

• Scotland learns they don’t need central gov and can rule themselves??

corruption

abuse of entrusted public power for private gain

Public opinion

element of corruption

criticism: public perception determines corruption—> may be unreliable, how you measure it

national intrest

element of corruption

criticism: presumes everyone agrees w/ national interest

public office

element of corruption

criticism: officials treat public office as personal property rather than public trust

“according to the rule”

gov obligated to do something but don’t for free/ without bribes

“against the rule”

explicitly against the rule

Influence markets

efforts by wealthy individuals to shape public policy by channeling funds to party officials+ elected figures who act as middlemen betw. business interests and bureaucrats 

elite cartels

extended networks of political, business, military, media, bureau elites sustained by corrupt rewards + way to slave off political competition

Oligarchs and Clans

corrupt figures + personal followings contend over large gains. Often resort to violence to protect them

Official Moguls

top political figures/personal favorites who use state power to plunder the economy and enrich themselves

causes of corruption

1. lack of rules, oversight, enforcement (OR too complex rules that allow subjective enforcement that leads to rent seeking behavior)

2. institutional weakness in legislative/judicial systems

3. low incomes for public officials

4. high rewards compared to risks for corrupt behavior

5. low likelihood of having corruption detected

resistant to corruption when…

1. existence of accountability

2. high levels of ethics/integrity

3. transparency

political impacts

causes unit of democratic system to lose their credibility, legitimacy and accountability

economic impacts

1. misuses national wealth for small segment of ethics

2. undermines social services for poor

3. deters investment by distorting fair market competition

4. misallocation of talent

5. reduces impact of foreign aid

6. loss of tax revenue

7. lowers quality/raises costs of infrastructure&public sectors

external control

aid and enforcement from foreign countries/orgs

executive control “from above”

implementation issues (lack political will, accomodate international pressures)

Institutional control 

“control from within”

enforcement issues

• over-regulating can be counterproductive

democratic control

“control from below”

• civil society & political parties &free fair elections, promote legislative and judicial oversight (but can also be corrupt)

• implementation issues