1. Decentralization and the Struggle for Municipal Autonomy
Local Power
Decentralization and the Struggle for
Municipal Autonomy

2. Waves of Democracy & Reverse Waves of Authoritarianism
First long wave 1828 – 1926
First reverse wave 1922 – 1944
Second short wave
Second reverse wave

3. Latin America: Third Wave breaks in 1980’s
Different democratic “rules of the game”
What difference has “Third Wave Democracy” made for how local governments function?

4. Origin of Latin American Cities
Amerindian capitals
Conquest and city systems
Primate city systems
Continental city systems
Recent modifications
Brasilia
Ciudad Guyana
Ciudad Lazaro Cardenas

5. Institutional Structure of Latin American Municipalities I
Geopolitical unit – similar to counties in the U.S.
Executive power
Mayors (usually presidential model)
Parliamentary model
Bureaucracy
Legislative – Municipal Councils

6. Institutional Structure of Latin American Municipalities II
Municipal Bureaucracy
Traffic
Road maintenance
Fire
National bureaucracy .
Major infrastructural investment
Rapid transit & freeways
Housing
Hospitals
Police

7. Institutional Structure of Latin American Municipalities III
Judicial –
local traffic courts
Zoning violations
Neighborhood Councils

8. Financial Powers of Municipal Governments
Traditional municipal taxes
Right of “front”
Lotteries
Situado constitucional
New powers to tax in the “Third Wave”
Political limitations on new powers

9. The Future Will the tradition of centralism may reassert itself?
Political Culture changes slowly
Charismatic leaders resist the checks provided by municipal governments (Venezuela under Chavez)
Centralism may be retained to constrain break- away tendencies (Bolivia – Santa Cruz)