Decentralization, local governance, and inequality in the Middle East and North Africa / edited by Kristen Kao, Ellen Lust

While many scholars, policymakers, and development practitioners view decentralization as a way to increase participation, strengthen political representation, and improve social welfare, little is known about the experiences of communities in the context of decentralization - particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. This volume directs our attention toward the ways in which decentralization is "lived locally" by citizens of the MENA region, underscoring the simultaneous influences of individual-level factors (e.g., gender, education) and local context (e.g., development levels, electoral institutions) on governance processes and outcomes.