Decentralization
Distribution of decision-making from central to smaller groups.
Decentralization means taking the planning and decision-making duties of an organization and spreading them out from a central authority to smaller groups within it. This idea has been used in fields like business management, political science, law, public administration, technology, economics, and money. The French word "décentralisation" first appeared in the 1820s, and English writers started using "decentralization" shortly thereafter, though not before the French term emerged.
The concept of centralization entered French political language in 1795, when the post-Revolution Directory set up a new government. By the 1820s, the opposite term—decentralization—had emerged. In the mid-1800s, Alexis de Tocqueville observed that the French Revolution began with a push toward decentralization but ended up strengthening centralization. In 1863, French bureaucrat Maurice Block published an article on decentralization in a French journal, analyzing government bureaucracy and recent French efforts to shift functions away from the center.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, anti-state activists—calling themselves anarchists, libertarians, or decentralists—developed ideas of liberty and decentralization. Tocqueville argued that decentralization has both administrative and civic value: it gives citizens more chances to engage in public affairs and teaches them to use freedom. He believed that local, active, and even fussy freedoms create the best check on central government power, even if that power claims to represent a collective will. Anarchist theorist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon summed up his economic and political ideas as "agricultural-industrial federation" and "political federation or decentralization."
In early 20th-century America, a decentralist movement arose in response to the concentration of economic wealth and political power. It blamed large-scale industry for the decline of small shopkeepers and manufacturers, and promoted wider property ownership and a return to small-scale living. Supporters included Southern Agrarians like Robert Penn Warren and journalist Herbert Agar. Later figures who identified with social, economic, or political decentralism included Ralph Borsodi, Wendell Berry, Paul Goodman, Carl Oglesby, Karl Hess, Donald Livingston, Kirkpatrick Sale, Murray Bookchin, Dorothy Day, Senator Mark O. Hatfield, Mildred J.
- Field
- Political science, public administration, economics, technology
- Known for
- Distribution of planning and decision-making away from central authority to smaller factions
- First use of term
- 1820s in France
- Early advocate
- Alexis de Tocqueville
- Key anarchist theorist
- Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
- Influential 20th century author
- Leopold Kohr
Lore & Background
The word "centralisation" came into use in France in 1795 as the post-Revolution French Directory leadership created a new government structure. The word "décentralisation" came into use in the 1820s. "Centralization" entered written English in the first third of the 1800s; mentions of decentralization in English also appear during this period, but only after the French term had been coined. In the mid-1800s Tocqueville wrote that the French Revolution began with a push toward decentralization but became, in the end, an extension of centralization.
Reader's Guide
Decentralization has been a recurring theme in political and administrative thought since the 19th century, often presented as a response to problems associated with centralized systems. In government, it has been seen as a solution to economic decline, government inability to fund services, and the demands of minorities. The 1999 United Nations Development Programme report noted that a large number of developing and transitional countries have embarked on decentralization programs, driven by a strong desire for greater participation of citizens and private sector organizations in governance. The report also linked the trend to the growing distrust of government, the demise of centralized regimes like the Soviet Union, and emerging separatist demands.
In the 1980s, Stephen Cummings wrote that decentralization became a "revolutionary megatrend." In 1983, "Decentralization" was identified as one of the "Ten Key Values" of the Green Movement in the United States. The systems approach to decentralization, as described by the UNDP, involves a whole systems perspective including levels, spheres, sectors and functions, seeing the community level as the entry point. Norman Johnson of Los Alamos National Laboratory defined a decentralized system as one where some decisions by agents are made without centralized control or processing. The University of California, Irvine's PACE project adopted Rohit Khare's definition: "A decentralized system is one which requires multiple parties to make their own independent decisions."
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Decentralization in government & public administration?
Decentralization is the practice of shifting planning and decision-making authority away from a single central body and distributing it across smaller units within an organization or state. It is a foundational concept in political science and public administration that contrasts with top-down, centralized governance.
When did the term 'decentralization' first appear?
The French word 'décentralisation' entered political vocabulary in the 1820s, and English-language writers adopted 'decentralization' shortly thereafter. It followed the 1795 introduction of 'centralization' into French political discourse during the post-Revolution Directory era.
Who are the key thinkers most associated with Decentralization?
Alexis de Tocqueville is widely recognized as an early advocate, and Pierre-Joseph Proudhon developed the idea further through anarchist political theory. In the twentieth century, Leopold Kohr became a particularly influential voice championing distributed, small-scale authority.
What fields does Decentralization apply to beyond politics?
The concept is used across business management, law, economics, technology, and finance. In each of these domains it describes the same core move: spreading planning and decision-making responsibilities from a central hub to smaller, more localized groups.
Why is Decentralization considered important in public administration?
It provides a structural alternative to concentrated, top-down governance by empowering local or sub-unit bodies to make decisions closer to the people and functions they affect. Proponents argue this distribution of authority increases responsiveness and reduces the risks that come with power held in a single center.
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