Decentralizing towards good governance at the grassroots

Abstract

Good governance in a large functioning democracy is a complex and challenging issue, made further complicated by the question of whether the nation in question is categorized as 'developed' or 'developing'. Governance can also either be centralized or decentralized in a democracy. How representative a democracy is also matters. The chapter addresses these various aspects of governance in a democracy and makes a case for decentralized and local governance to improve the quality of democracy. Recommendations for short-term measures and long-term measures to ensure good and sustaining governance at the grassroots are provided, with the caution that government resources should be effectively used only in core areas of governance, and that they should be time-bound.