Commonwealth Local Government Forum

Americas \ Local democracy

This section contains information relating to all aspects of lcoal democracy and good governance at the local level. The Commonwealth principles on good practice for local democracy and good governance - known as the Aberdeen Agenda - which have been adopted by all CLGF members and are incorporated in the Commonwealth Charter, set the framework for the promotion of local democracy in the Commonwealth. The materials in this section relate to the constitutional and legal provisions for local government and include a range of studies, policy and training materials on local elections, leadership, community participation, representative local government, local government management and partnerships between local government and other key stakeholders such as traditional authorities.

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Metropolitan Governance Principles and Practice Prepared for the Fiscal Management Division

This paper identifies a range of governance mechanisms to support the efficient and equitable provision of public services and improve policy coordination in metropolitan areas. It provides examples from cities in the Global North and Global South, and takes a closer look at metropolitan governance in Brazil, where the constitution makes it challenging to create formal metropolitan structures. The paper suggests that the choice of metropolitan governance structure depends upon how one weighs conflicting considerations—prioritizing efficiency, access, and accountability points to smaller local government units whereas economies of scale, externalities, and equity suggest larger governments. The review of metropolitan governance models does not point to one model that could work everywhere because national and local context matter. Nevertheless, the paper suggests that countries should develop more effective systems of governance for metropolitan areas if they want to improve service delivery, cost sharing, and decision-making. A regional structure that encompasses the entire economic region would ensure that services are delivered in a coordinated fashion across municipal boundaries and improve the process as a whole by reaping the benefits of economies of scale and internalizing externalities.

Author: Enid Slack Publisher: Inter-American Development Bank Publication year: 2019


The sustainable development goals and the global state of democracy indices

This issue of the GSoD In Focus explores the contribution that the Global State of Democracy (GSoD) Indices can make to the review of progress on the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The GSoD Indices can be used to complement the official indicators of the SDGs, to acquire in-depth knowledge on trends in achieving the specific targets of individual SDGs. In this regard, the GSoD Indices can be used to provide data on the SDGs for poverty (SDG 1), hunger (2), health and wellbeing (3), education (4), gender equality (5), inequalities (10), sustainable cities and communities (11), peace, justice and institutions (16), and partnerships for the goals (17), as well as across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Author: International IDEA Publisher: International IDEA Publication year: 2019


The Myth of Bureaucratic Neutrality: Institutionalized Inequity in Local Government Hiring

As a field, we often relate merit and neutrality to the technical skills needed to be the “best” candidate for a job, but that was not necessarily what civil service reformers had in mind. The civil service system was meant to replace widespread political patronage, but the myth around the origins of the civil service system masked inequalities built into early testing requirements and institutionalized racial inequities in hiring practices. In this article, we argue the founding myth of bureaucratic neutrality was so powerful that it continues to reverberate in our field. We trace the current reverberations of the myth of neutrality through modern hiring practices and the contemporary legal landscape. By doing this, we present a systematic review of this rationalized myth in public employment, using an institutionalism framework. As the myth of bureaucratic neutrality continues to permeate decision-making, policy creation, and implementation, it will continue to institutionalize inequity within the field.

Author: Shannon Portillo, Domonic Bearfield, Nicole Humphrey Publisher: Review of Public Personnel Administration Publication year: 2019


All Politics is Local: A comparative analysis of local government in Canada, the UK and Ireland

By exploring the legislative and structural elements that shape municipal (local) level government in Canada and local government in Ireland and the UK, this paper will seek to provide an analysis of the most accessible layer of government in each country. It starts with a brief introduction and overview of the Canadian political system. It will then assess the relationship that the municipal government has with its provincial levels counterparts as well as comparing it with the local-central level relationship that exists in Ireland and the more comparable system of multi-layered interaction in the UK. Finally, the paper concludes with a comment section outlining what lessons can be learned and applied as a result of this comparative analysis, as well as identifying the challenges that local government faces more broadly in an ever globalizing political climate.

Author: Patrick Bourke Publisher: LGiU Publication year: 2017


Democratization (2nd Edition) A Critical Introduction

The second edition of this popular and authoritative text provides a truly global assessment of democratization in theory and practice in the contemporary world. It has been systematically revised and updated throughout to cover recent developments, from the impact of 9/11 and EU enlargement to the war in Iraq.

Author: Jean Grugel, Matthew Louis Bishop Publisher: Macmillan Publication year: 2013


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