This qualitative case study examines the impact of decentralization on local governance in the selected atoll, focusing on the complex socio-economic and geographical context of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The decentralization policy, aimed at empowering local councils and promoting grassroots democracy, is critically assessed through interviews with local stakeholders. Findings reveal that decentralization has not achieved its intended goals, as local councils remain hindered by financial constraints, political interference, and low civic engagement. The study highlights the persistent inequalities in development across islands and the lack of independence within local governance structures. It calls for reforms, including legislative changes, capacity-building initiatives, and public awareness programs, to enhance local council autonomy, encourage community participation, and ensure fair resource distribution. This research contributes valuable insights to the discourse on decentralization in island contexts and proposes actionable recommendations for strengthening governance frameworks in the Maldives and similar SIDS.

Keywords: Civic participation, decentralization, local governance, Maldives, Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

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1. Hlynsdóttir EM. Decentralisation to subnational governments in small states. In: Sub-national governance in small states: The case of Iceland. Palgrave Pivot, Cham; 2020. p. 29–56.
2. Zulfa M. Decentralized administration in the Maldives. Melbourne: University of Melbourne; 2019.
3. Smith J. Constitutional reforms and democratic transition in the Maldives: 1999–2008. J South Asian Stud. 2012;34(4):567–584.
4. Timilsina KP. Problems and prospects of local judicial committee in Nepal. J Polit Sci. 2020;20:124–141.
5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ‘Report on the constitutional reform process in the Maldives. Male’: Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 2009.
6. Study on the decentralization process in the Maldives. Maldives: UNICEF; 2013.
7. Full steam ahead for decentralization and sustainable development; 2022.
8. Selected Atoll Council. Annual report 2020. Atoll Capital: Selected Atoll Council; 2020.
9. National Bureau of Statistics. ‘Statistical yearbook of Maldives 2022. Male’: National Bureau of Statistics; 2022.
10. Lange S. The depoliticisation of development and the democratisation of politics in Tanzania: Parallel structures as obstacles to delivering services to the poor. J Dev Stud. 2008;44(8):1122–1144.
11. Grant B, Drew J. Theories of local government and application to Australia. In: Local government in Australia: history, theory and public policy. 2017. p. 125–173.
12. Braun D, Guston DH. Principal-agent theory and research policy: An introduction. Sci Public Policy. 2003;30(5):302–308.
13. Oates WE. On the evolution of fiscal federalism: Theory and institutions. Natl Tax J. 2008;61(2):313–334.
14. Klijn EH, Koppenjan J. Governance network theory: Past, present and future. Policy Polit. 2012;40(4):587–606.
15. Christensen T, Lægreid P. Taking stock: New public management (NPM) and post-NPM reforms-trends and challenges. In: Handbook on the politics of public administration. 2022. p. 38–49.
16. Islam F. New public management (NPM): A dominating paradigm in public sectors. Afr J Polit Sci Int Relat. 2015;9(4):141.
17. Altamimi H, Liu Q, Jimenez B. Not too much, not too little: Centralization, decentralization, and organizational change. J Public Adm Res Theory. 2023;33(1):170–185.
18. Xu M. Research on the relationship between fiscal decentralization and environmental management efficiency under competitive pressure: Evidence from China. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2022;29(16): 23392–23406.
19. Waheed H. Democratization and decentralization in the Maldives: A decade in review. South Asian Stud J. 2018.
20. Latheef L. Challenges in Maldivian local councils: An analysis. J Maldivian Polit Gov. 2019.
21. Linder W, Mueller S. Swiss democracy: Possible solutions to conflict in multicultural societies. Springer Nature; 2021.
22. Crevoisier O, Quiquerez F. Inter-regional corporate ownership and regional autonomy: The case of Switzerland. Ann Reg Sci. 2005;39(4):663–689.
23. Dafflon B. Fiscal federalism in Switzerland: A survey of constitutional issues, budget responsibility and equalisation. In: Fiscal federalism in the European Union. Routledge; 2005. p. 267–307.
24. Vatter A. Swiss federalism: The transformation of a federal model. Routledge; 2018.
25. Nugroho AP, Handayani S. Call for asymmetric health decentralisation in Indonesia. J Borneo Adm. 2022;18(2):139–154.
26. Triyanto D, Wahyudi ST, Ananda CF. The effect of capital expenditure on local own-source revenue: Study in East Java Indonesia. J Ekon Kuantitatif Terapan. 2017;10(2):137–144.
27. Datta PK. Decentralising democratic governance in village India: Looking back and beyond. Int J Civ Serv Reform Pract. 2024;8(1).
28. Singh R. Decentralisation and governance in India’s villages. Palgrave Macmillan; 2016.
29. Venkatesu E. Democratic decentralization in India. Routledge; 2016.
30. Kumar P. Empowering villages: Gandhian ideals and the role of Panchayat Raj. Acad Discourse. 2024;13(1):1–11.
31. Panda B, Thakur HP. Decentralization and health system performance–A focused review of dimensions, difficulties, and derivatives in India. BMC Health Serv Res. 2016;16:1–14.
32. Hari KS. Role of democratic decentralisation and empowerment of local bodies: A case of Kerala. Rev Mark Integr. 2022;14(1):53–63.
33. Gyawali GP. Federalism: Challenges and opportunities in Nepal. Molung Educ Front. 2018;8:37–48.
34. Bhattarai NR. Strengths and challenges of federal governance in Nepal: Rethinking with rural development approach. Res Nepal J Dev Stud. 2020;3(2):38–48.
35. Kalvet T. Innovation: A factor explaining e-government success in Estonia. Electron Gov Int J. 2012;9(2):142–157.
36. Siemiatycki M. The making and impacts of a classic text in local government decentralization: The case of the Public Administration Review article of 1983. Public Adm Rev. 2017;77(1):24–32.
37. Adam A. Challenges of decentralization in the Maldives: A qualitative perspective. J Isl Stud. 2019;5(2):45–60.
38. Lavrakas P. Encyclopedia of survey research methods. Sage Publications; 2008.
39. Cresswell J. Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches. 2013.
40. Schreier M. Sampling and generalization. In: The SAGE handbook of qualitative data collection. 2018. p. 84–97.
41. Alhojailan MI. Thematic analysis: A critical review of its process and evaluation. In: WEI international European academic conference proceedings; 2012 Oct; Zagreb, Croatia.
42. Vaismoradi M, Jones J, Turunen H, Snelgrove S. Theme development in qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis. J Nurs Educ Pract. 2016;6(5):100–110. doi:10.5430/jnep.v6n5p100.
43. Debela KW. Local governance in Switzerland: Adequate municipal autonomy cum intergovernmental cooperation? Cogent Soc Sci. 2020;6(1):1763889.
44. Johnson C. Decentralisation in India: Poverty, politics and Panchayati Raj. London: Overseas Development Institute; 2003.
45. Mathew G. Decentralization in India: Poverty, politics and Panchayati Raj. Econ Polit Wkly. 2020;55(1):36–45.

This qualitative case study examines the impact of decentralization on local governance in the selected atoll, focusing on the complex socio-economic and geographical context of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The decentralization policy, aimed at empowering local councils and promoting grassroots democracy, is critically assessed through interviews with local stakeholders. Findings reveal that decentralization has not achieved its intended goals, as local councils remain hindered by financial constraints, political interference, and low civic engagement. The study highlights the persistent inequalities in development across islands and the lack of independence within local governance structures. It calls for reforms, including legislative changes, capacity-building initiatives, and public awareness programs, to enhance local council autonomy, encourage community participation, and ensure fair resource distribution. This research contributes valuable insights to the discourse on decentralization in island contexts and proposes actionable recommendations for strengthening governance frameworks in the Maldives and similar SIDS.

Keywords: Civic participation, decentralization, local governance, Maldives, Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Hlynsdóttir EM. Decentralisation to subnational governments in small states. In: Sub-national governance in small states: The case of Iceland. Palgrave Pivot, Cham; 2020. p. 29–56.
2. Zulfa M. Decentralized administration in the Maldives. Melbourne: University of Melbourne; 2019.
3. Smith J. Constitutional reforms and democratic transition in the Maldives: 1999–2008. J South Asian Stud. 2012;34(4):567–584.
4. Timilsina KP. Problems and prospects of local judicial committee in Nepal. J Polit Sci. 2020;20:124–141.
5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ‘Report on the constitutional reform process in the Maldives. Male’: Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 2009.
6. Study on the decentralization process in the Maldives. Maldives: UNICEF; 2013.
7. Full steam ahead for decentralization and sustainable development; 2022.
8. Selected Atoll Council. Annual report 2020. Atoll Capital: Selected Atoll Council; 2020.
9. National Bureau of Statistics. ‘Statistical yearbook of Maldives 2022. Male’: National Bureau of Statistics; 2022.
10. Lange S. The depoliticisation of development and the democratisation of politics in Tanzania: Parallel structures as obstacles to delivering services to the poor. J Dev Stud. 2008;44(8):1122–1144.
11. Grant B, Drew J. Theories of local government and application to Australia. In: Local government in Australia: history, theory and public policy. 2017. p. 125–173.
12. Braun D, Guston DH. Principal-agent theory and research policy: An introduction. Sci Public Policy. 2003;30(5):302–308.
13. Oates WE. On the evolution of fiscal federalism: Theory and institutions. Natl Tax J. 2008;61(2):313–334.
14. Klijn EH, Koppenjan J. Governance network theory: Past, present and future. Policy Polit. 2012;40(4):587–606.
15. Christensen T, Lægreid P. Taking stock: New public management (NPM) and post-NPM reforms-trends and challenges. In: Handbook on the politics of public administration. 2022. p. 38–49.
16. Islam F. New public management (NPM): A dominating paradigm in public sectors. Afr J Polit Sci Int Relat. 2015;9(4):141.
17. Altamimi H, Liu Q, Jimenez B. Not too much, not too little: Centralization, decentralization, and organizational change. J Public Adm Res Theory. 2023;33(1):170–185.
18. Xu M. Research on the relationship between fiscal decentralization and environmental management efficiency under competitive pressure: Evidence from China. Environ Sci Pollut Res. 2022;29(16): 23392–23406.
19. Waheed H. Democratization and decentralization in the Maldives: A decade in review. South Asian Stud J. 2018.
20. Latheef L. Challenges in Maldivian local councils: An analysis. J Maldivian Polit Gov. 2019.
21. Linder W, Mueller S. Swiss democracy: Possible solutions to conflict in multicultural societies. Springer Nature; 2021.
22. Crevoisier O, Quiquerez F. Inter-regional corporate ownership and regional autonomy: The case of Switzerland. Ann Reg Sci. 2005;39(4):663–689.
23. Dafflon B. Fiscal federalism in Switzerland: A survey of constitutional issues, budget responsibility and equalisation. In: Fiscal federalism in the European Union. Routledge; 2005. p. 267–307.
24. Vatter A. Swiss federalism: The transformation of a federal model. Routledge; 2018.
25. Nugroho AP, Handayani S. Call for asymmetric health decentralisation in Indonesia. J Borneo Adm. 2022;18(2):139–154.
26. Triyanto D, Wahyudi ST, Ananda CF. The effect of capital expenditure on local own-source revenue: Study in East Java Indonesia. J Ekon Kuantitatif Terapan. 2017;10(2):137–144.
27. Datta PK. Decentralising democratic governance in village India: Looking back and beyond. Int J Civ Serv Reform Pract. 2024;8(1).
28. Singh R. Decentralisation and governance in India’s villages. Palgrave Macmillan; 2016.
29. Venkatesu E. Democratic decentralization in India. Routledge; 2016.
30. Kumar P. Empowering villages: Gandhian ideals and the role of Panchayat Raj. Acad Discourse. 2024;13(1):1–11.
31. Panda B, Thakur HP. Decentralization and health system performance–A focused review of dimensions, difficulties, and derivatives in India. BMC Health Serv Res. 2016;16:1–14.
32. Hari KS. Role of democratic decentralisation and empowerment of local bodies: A case of Kerala. Rev Mark Integr. 2022;14(1):53–63.
33. Gyawali GP. Federalism: Challenges and opportunities in Nepal. Molung Educ Front. 2018;8:37–48.
34. Bhattarai NR. Strengths and challenges of federal governance in Nepal: Rethinking with rural development approach. Res Nepal J Dev Stud. 2020;3(2):38–48.
35. Kalvet T. Innovation: A factor explaining e-government success in Estonia. Electron Gov Int J. 2012;9(2):142–157.
36. Siemiatycki M. The making and impacts of a classic text in local government decentralization: The case of the Public Administration Review article of 1983. Public Adm Rev. 2017;77(1):24–32.
37. Adam A. Challenges of decentralization in the Maldives: A qualitative perspective. J Isl Stud. 2019;5(2):45–60.
38. Lavrakas P. Encyclopedia of survey research methods. Sage Publications; 2008.
39. Cresswell J. Qualitative inquiry & research design: Choosing among five approaches. 2013.
40. Schreier M. Sampling and generalization. In: The SAGE handbook of qualitative data collection. 2018. p. 84–97.
41. Alhojailan MI. Thematic analysis: A critical review of its process and evaluation. In: WEI international European academic conference proceedings; 2012 Oct; Zagreb, Croatia.
42. Vaismoradi M, Jones J, Turunen H, Snelgrove S. Theme development in qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis. J Nurs Educ Pract. 2016;6(5):100–110. doi:10.5430/jnep.v6n5p100.
43. Debela KW. Local governance in Switzerland: Adequate municipal autonomy cum intergovernmental cooperation? Cogent Soc Sci. 2020;6(1):1763889.
44. Johnson C. Decentralisation in India: Poverty, politics and Panchayati Raj. London: Overseas Development Institute; 2003.
45. Mathew G. Decentralization in India: Poverty, politics and Panchayati Raj. Econ Polit Wkly. 2020;55(1):36–45.