Dossier 2013/03

Decentralised politics

Zoom in

© Rolf Schulten/imagebroker/Lineair

The mayor of Intika/Taquile, an island on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca.
Editorial
– by Hans Dembowski

Constant controversy

China's authoritarian approach to devolution proves that citizens' desires ultimately do matter
Read
Muncipalities
– by Aristide Tiendrebeogo

Failure likely

Decentralisation in Burkina Faso is coming up against obstacles because the local people are distrustful of politicians at all levels of government
Read
Governance
– by Hans-Jürgen Beerfeltz

A lever for reducing poverty

The decentralisation of government powers contributes to fighting poverty in meaningful ways, so Germany is supporting related reforms
Read
Middle East
– by Ulrich Nitschke, Kristin Hentschel

Foundations for a new state

Municipal planning in the Palestinian Territories is increasingly tailored to citizens' needs
Read
Local government
– by Monika Huber, Wolfgang Kaiser

Mixed feelings

Peru’s NGOs want government decentralisation to serve social goals and public participation
Read
Public participation
– by Christian Wuttke

Field trials

China's urban planners are increasingly interested in their people’s desires
Read
Rural democracy
– by Ipsita Sapra

Living in the villages

After 25 years of elected village councils in India, democracy still needs to be deepened
Read
Decentralisation
– by Karim Okanla

Donors must not sleep

Don't let Benin's municipal authorities become empty shells
Read
Housing
– by Benjamin D. Ofori, Jesse S. Ayivor

Crumbling structures

Aggravating housing crisis, erosion is threatening Ghana's traditional mud houses
Read
All politics is local
A delegation from Cape Coast visiting the “biodiversity path” in Bonn’s municipal forest
– by Anita Reddy

“Shared goals”

Twinning cities helps policymakers to rise to great challgenges
Read
Civic participation
Artisans are particularly important for Niger’s economy: a blacksmith at work
– by Michael Konow

Grassroots matter

In Niger, civil society needs support at the grassroots level
Read