Risky business: Decentralization from above in Chile and Uruguay

Chile and Uruguay have not figured prominently in the theoretical debate over decentralization. Absent from each are the types of powerful subnational actors who have forced national politicians to decentralize in many countries in recent years. Nevertheless, national politicians in both countries decided to decentralize in pursuit of partisan advantages, demonstrating that decentralization can occur even when subnational officials are structurally weak within their parties. Decentralization has delivered several gains anticipated by reformers, but it has also created important new challenges, including the weakening of traditional sources of national control over subnational officials.