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

Dr. Oben Timothy Mbuagbo
Dr. Oben Timothy Mbuagbo * §
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§ University Of Buea, Cameroon.

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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.

Ethical Approval

No ethics committee approval was required for this article type.

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How to Cite This Article

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

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Journal Specifications

Crossref Journal DOI 10.17406/GJHSS

Print ISSN 0975-587X

e-ISSN 2249-460X

Keywords
Economic liberalizationeffectively relinquish
Classification
GJHSS-C Classification FOR Code: 160514
  • Submission ReceivedFebruary 9, 2012
  • Peer Review Double Blind
    Handling Editor
  • Accepted March 1, 2012
  • Published March 15, 2012
Version of record

v1.2

Issue date
September 6, 2012

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

Dr. Mbuagbo
Dr. Mbuagbo University Of Buea, Cameroon.
  • Submission ReceivedFebruary 9, 2012
  • Peer Review Double Blind
    Handling Editor
  • Accepted March 1, 2012
  • Published March 15, 2012