Introduction: Factors of Decentralization in Africa

By the mid-1990s, a whole complex of factors had crystalized on the African continent that made decentralization in demand even in those countries where unitarism and centralism were particularly firmly rooted. The end of the Cold War and the attainment of independence exposed the inefficiency and instability of many African states. During the same period, international financial institutions singled out “bad governance” as the main reason preventing young nations from developing. As a result, the demand for decentralization of management models—including the political field—turned into an imperative, without taking into account how to receive loans and assistance in foreign markets. The mentioned processes and trends actualize the study of the mechanisms, forms, and models of decentralization practiced today in Africa.