Public participation and poverty alleviation: The experience of reform communists in India's West Bengal

The Uneven Reach of Decentralization: A Case Study among Indigenous Peoples in the Bolivian Amazon

“…For example, officials can be voted out of power through electoral processes, or citizens can move to jurisdictions with preferred public service provision (Seabright, 1996: 61-89). However, in most developing countries these opportunities are limited (Bardhan, 2002: 185-205;Echeverri-Gent, 1992: 1401Fiszbein, 1997Fiszbein, : 1029) and the media and civil society engagement are the only means for helping in the realization of accountability.…”

Decentralisation in Africa : A Pathway out of Poverty and Conflict?

“…voting and election campaigning, people are unlikely to get actively involved if elections are not free and fair, so that their votes and dedication do not have a bearing on the election result; or their preferred candidates do not have a fair chance of being elected into office. Empirical evidence has shown that local representatives are often not from among the poor but from elite groups (Echeverri-Gent, 1992;. 5 Although this might seem to be a sign of low levels of participation and representation of the poor, it must be interpreted with caution.…”

“…Local elite capture can coincide with corruption, patronage or clientelism. It refers to situations in which local elites are in a position to influence policy-making for their own benefit, without necessarily being in public office themselves (Echeverri-Gent, 1992;Mookherjee, 2000, 2006). 8 Since elites are privileged in terms of social, economic or political power to both get organised and obtain crucial information, it is much easier for them than for the poor to have a bearing on local government affairs.…”

Civic political culture, participatory governance and political development: an X-ray of its interdependent context

“…Participatory governance improved the level and quality of citizen participation in large numbers under participatory budgeting in Kerala, India (Echeverri-Gent, 1992;Heller 1995Heller , 2000Chibber, 1999) and Porto Alegre, Brazil (Abers, 1998;Santos, 1998;Baiocchi 2001Baiocchi , 2005, as well as in community policing (Fung, 2001). Some studies provided its evidence of success in social service provision (King & Ozler, 1999: 24;Baiocchi, 2001: 48;Parker, 2005).…”