Democratizing decentralization in South Africa: A case study of local government in Port Elizabeth.

摘要

This dissertation examines the democratic transition in South Africa at the local level. In particular, it analyzes the national government's decentralization strategy, which aims to make local government more fiscally responsible, administratively sound and conducive to neo-liberalism, yet also more open, participatory and community development-oriented. The African National Congress (ANC), the governing party, maintains that it wants to see local government become both democratic and developmental and, thereby, further the democratization process. Through a detailed analysis of the municipality of Port Elizabeth (PE), the contradictory aspects of the decentralization strategy are revealed.; My analytical approach involves asking and exploring questions that recognize both the external context and the local dynamics of the ANC's decentralization strategy. The dissertation appreciates that a local government is affected by global and national factors but also that local circumstances have bearing on how a local government responds to new challenges. Extensive fieldwork was conducted in PE, which entailed accessing various primary sources of data and interviewing key councillors, officials, union leaders and civic activists.; The dissertation teaches us that the ANC's decentralization strategy is marked by tensions and contradictions but that the PE local government has struggled with them in an attempt to secure positive outcomes. Global and national capitalist forces, historical factors, limited resources, participatory initiatives and the simultaneity of democratic and development objectives can all create strain for a municipality. However, with strong local government leadership, constructive local government-society relations and an acceptance of the need for time and patience, local government can address the tensions and problems.