Decentralization, Democratization, and Informal Power in Mexico

Contents

List of Figures

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction: The Paradoxes of Local Empowerment

Part 1 State Formation and Political Change

2. Centralization and Informal Power

3. Decentralization and Democratization

Part 2 A Tale of Three Cities

4. Chilpancingo: The Continuation of Corporatism?

5. Tijuana: Liberal Democracy?

6. Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl: Social Movement Democracy?

Part 3 Conclusions

7. Pathways of Democratic Change

Index

“Decentralization, Democratization, and Informal Power in Mexico challenges conventional notions about the interplay of decentralization and democracy. It is now clearly understood that decentralization in developing countries does not always lead to better governance, but Selee’s work takes the important step of explaining why this is the case. Its theoretical grounding and the author’s rich and insightful discussion of three case studies reveal the pivotal importance of informal power structures for determining the success or failure of decentralization efforts in Mexico. This book not only enriches our understanding of decentralization in Mexico but also provides important insights into decentralization and the role of informal power in the developing world.”

—Emily Edmonds-Poli, University of San Diego