Decentralisation and the Management of Ethnic Conflict: Lessons from the Republic of Macedonia

Description

Ethnic inequalities in divided societies can exacerbate social divisions and lead to conflict. Reducing these inequalities could have a de-escalating effect, yet there is little consensus on how this can be achieved most effectively and sustainably. Decentralisation is held to improve inter-ethnic relations in multi-ethnic states by allowing territorially concentrated groups greater autonomy over their own affairs, and the case of the Republic of Macedonia offers an example of the successes and failings of decentralisation. Decentralisation and the Management of Ethnic Conflict offers new insight into the dynamics of conflict management through decentralisation, using an in-depth case study of decentralisation in the Republic of Macedonia between 2005 and 2012. Guided by the concept of horizontal inequalities, the volume identifies the factors which influenced the decision to devolve responsibilities to the municipalities after 2001.Taking an integrative approach to studying the political, administrative, and fiscal dimensions of decentralisation and its implementation, the book investigates whether these institutional reforms have indeed contributed to the reduction of inequalities between Macedonia’s ethnic groups, and what the obstacles were in those areas in which decentralisation has not reached its full potential. The key lesson of the Macedonian case is that attempts to solve internal self-determination conflicts through decentralisation will fail if local self-governance exists only in form but not in substance. This book contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the challenges facing different forms of decentralisation in the long term, and as such represents a significant contribution to Conflict Studies, Development Studies and Political Science more generally. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of figures List of tables Foreword Preface and acknowledgements List of acronyms and abbreviations Introduction 1 How decentralisation came to the new Macedonia 2 Has decentralisation enhanced local democracy? 3 Making local services more responsive to diverse needs 4 Who has the money? Fiscal reform and local autonomy 5 Subsidiarity versus state cohesion Conclusion Afterword Appendices Appendix A: Methodology Appendix B: The territorial pattern of ethnic demography in the Republic of Macedonia (Turkish and Roma communities) Appendix C: Map of the proposed ‘Republic of Ilirida’ within a Federal Republic of Macedonia Appendix D: Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts’ proposal for the partition of the Republic of acedonia, May 2001 Appendix E: Equitable representation of ethnic communities in 15 selected municipal administrations Appendix F: Membership data for municipal Committees for Inter-Community Relations Appendix G: Number of schools (including branches) and class sections, according to language of instruction (regular primary and lower er secondary schools) Appendix H: Number of schools (including branches) and class sections, according to language of instruction (regular egular upper secondary schools) Appendix I: Proportion of Serbian students learning in their mother tongue (regular primary and lower secondary schools) Appendix J: Number of regular and lower secondary schools according to the number of students Appendix K: Gross Domestic Product per capita according to planning region (in MKD) Appendix L: Map of the Republic of Macedonia’s planning regions Appendix M: The results of territorial reorganisation in 1996 and 2004 Appendix N: Characteristics of the 16 municipalities with populations below 5,000 Appendix O: Basic features of the planning regions Appendix P: VAT revenue according to planning region (in million MKD) Appendix Q: Approved and planned central budget funds for underdeveloped economic regions, 1994–2007 Bibliography Index