Cameroon: Flawed Decentralization and the Politics Of Identity in the Urban Space

Cameroon: Flawed Decentralization and the Politics Of Identity in the Urban Space

Dr. Oben Timothy Mbuagbo

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University of Buea

Cameroon: Flawed Decentralization and the Politics Of Identity in the Urban Space

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Abstract

Urban governance policies in Cameroon within the past two decades of political and economic liberalization have witnessed significant administrative and political setbacks. While the government of Cameroon tacitly embraced decentralization as a viable administrative and political strategy for improving the management of cities, the process has been stalled by excessive state interventionism. This paper draws on the decentralization experience of the coastal city of Limbe in the southwest region of Cameroon to analyze the emerging trajectories of conflict embedded in the current decentralization drive of city governance. Based on interviews of some municipal officials conducted in May and June 2011, this paper makes the case that the current urban governance crisis in Cameroon is traceable largely to the weak political impulse of central government to effectively relinquish its traditional grip on power at all levels of society. This partly explains why cities in Cameroon have failed to deliver expected services to their clientele, the population, on a regular and efficient manner.

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Funding

No external funding was declared for this work.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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How to Cite This Article

Dr. Oben Timothy Mbuagbo. 2012. \u201cCameroon: Flawed Decentralization and the Politics Of Identity in the Urban Space\u201d. Global Journal of Human-Social Science - C: Sociology & Culture GJHSS-C Volume 12 (GJHSS Volume 12 Issue C11): .

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GJHSS Volume 12 Issue C11
Pg. 15- 25

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Journal Specifications

Crossref Journal DOI 10.17406/GJHSS

Print ISSN 0975-587X

e-ISSN 2249-460X

Keywords

Economic liberalization effectively relinquish

Submission ReceivedFebruary 9, 2012
Peer Review Double Blind
Handling Editor
Accepted March 1, 2012
Published March 15, 2012

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v1.2

Issue date

September 6, 2012

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Article Matrices

Total Score: 106

Country: Cameroon

Subject: Global Journal of Human-Social Science - C: Sociology & Culture

Authors: Dr. Oben Timothy Mbuagbo (PhD/Dr. count: 1)

View Count (all-time): 124

Total Views (Real + Logic): 5084

Total Downloads (simulated): 2671

Publish Date: 2012 09, Thu

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Total Views: 5084

Total Downloads: 2671

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