Central and Local Government Relations in Albania: Toward Decentralization

Abstract

Local governance and decentralization is an ever growing topic in politics and public administration studies. This is better achieved by a good relationship between the local and central governments. A coordinated relation between these two important institutions provides prosperity and stability for a country. This paper aims two describe the notion of central-local governments relations, based on decentralization. It will begin by briefly presenting the theoretical aspects of the abovementioned concepts of central-local relations and decentralization. The paper first gives an overview of these concepts in the Republic of Albania, by describing the situation in different periods and different regimes. The aim of this study is to show how the central-local relations have evolved during the years in Albania and how much this relation has been concerned with decentralization and local self-governance. This study provides different competencies and budget capacity of both levels of government and gives examples from different developed countries in order to show how the system works in reality in Albania and how they should function in order to be more effective and efficient. Finally this study presents some of the problems that the local government institutions are facing in Albania, with the main issue being corruption in all levels of public administration and possible solutions for these problems will be suggested.