Decentralization and Party Politics in the Dominican Republic

Christopher Mitchell is Professor Emertius of Politics at New York University, USA.

"This is the first systematic study of political decentralization in the Dominican Republic, a country known for its entrenched centralism. To understand the roots and characteristics of this transformation, Christopher Mitchell carefully examines each of the factors that contributed to promote municipalismo, from changes in the Constitution to increasing demands for better public services. Mitchell's detailed analysis of the formation of a decentralization coalition is a major contribution to the study of democratization in Latin America. Unlike other countries in the region, Dominican decentralization was not a by-product of neoliberal reforms; it proceeded in the context of a clientelistic state." - Rosario Espinal, Professor of Sociology, Temple University, USA "Chris Mitchell is skilfull in weaving a persuasive account of how a social movement and a party system combined to encourage an unlikely change - the decentralization of political power in the Dominican Republic. He provides an excellent example of scholarly insight into the politics of reform." - Merilee Grindle, Edward S. Mason Professor of International Development, Harvard Kennedy School, USA "This concise book provides a compelling explanation for the mixed evolution of the politics of decentralization in the Dominican Republic from the 1990s to the present. Based on extensive research and interviews, it also contributes to theoretical debates about the roles of social movements and political parties and party systems in advancing decentralization reforms. I highly recommend this work to scholars and students alike." - Jonathan Hartlyn, Kenneth J. Reckford Professor of Political Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA

• 1. Introduction 2. Measures and Initiatives Favoring Decentralization, 1994-2008 3. The Deep Roots and Local Consequences of Dominican Centralism 4. A Decentralizing Coalition Finds Political Leverage 5. Party Alliances, the Municipios, and Decentralization 6. Dominican Decentralization Moves towards Maturity, 1996-2013 7. Pushback against Decentralization, and its Links with Influence over Nominations 8. Assessing Alternative Explanations of Dominican Decentralization 9. Pro-decentralization Strategies for the Future