The Concept of Centralization and Decentralization : An Analysis and Evaluation
| Author | Reza Rezazadeh |
| Published date | 01 December 1961 |
| Date | 01 December 1961 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/002085236102700407 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
The Concept of Centralization and Decentralization :
An Analysis and Evaluation
by
Reza REZAZADEH,
B.S.M.E., LL.B., J.D., Ph.D., LL.M.,
Institute of Training for Public Service,
Department of Government,
Indiana University.
UDC 35.072.1 + 35.071.6
In the field of administration and manage-
possible to reach generalized conclusions and
ment the terms -centralization -
»
and de-
to produce and maintain valuable results. Of
centralization
»
have not infrequently been
course, the spatial limitation naturally en-
used loosely and sometimes interchangeably
hances this abstra~ction.
with other terms such as a concentration »
and ~
deconcentration ».
The scientific ap-
proach
Types of centralization and decentralization
to this issue reveals that centraliza-
tion and decentralization can be divided into
Centralization and decentralization
different
concern
types fundamentally distinguished
from each other.
a central problem of organization.
In this
study the merit or demerit of the system is
The consideration of these types from a
of no concern, and they are only considered
purely scientific point of view, on the one
from the point of view of a structural analysis
hand, clarifies the definitions of these two
of organization to determine the various forms
terms and those others used in confusion with
in which -centralization and decentralization
them, and, on the other hand, demonstrates
take concrete shape, and to determine appa-
organizational structures that may result
rently heterogeneous facts that can be sys-
from various combinations of these types.
tematically understood from the point of
This approach also provides, in the examining
view of these two types of organization.
of an organization, a better vision of whether
Laws, judicial and a.dministrative decisions,
it is from a structural, functional or behavior-
and organizational rules are « norms
»
that
al point of view.
prescribe a certain human behavior. Thus
No specific organization has been taken
the content of the norm is human behavior
into consideration in this study. It is
which must take
a gen-
p’la~ce in time and space,
eral approach, and the reader may easily find
distinguishing, therefore, different spheres of
its application to
validity for the norm : the
any organization he may
spatial sphere of
have in mind.
validity, referring to the space for which the
norm is valid; the temporal sphere of valid-
Centralization and decentralization here
ity, referring to the time for whi~ch the norm
are examined as a concept rather than as a
is valid; the personal sphere of validity, de-
process.
This conceptual basis makes the
termining the persons to whom validity ex-
study somewhat abstract, since it eliminates
tends ; and the material sphere of validity,
organizationa’1 behavior and the human ele-
referring to the behavior prescribed by the
ment.
Though these elements are essential
norm (1).
in the process of centralization and decentral-
ization and in the creation of norms - sta-
tutes, executive
(1) The idea is
or administrative decisions
partly taken from Professor Hans
Kelsen’s theory of centralization and decentralization under
-
they are not important when the subject
his Pure Theory of Law concept. See his General Theory
is dealt with as a concept. Moreover, it is
of Law and State. Massachusetts, Harvard University Press,
the abstract form of approach that makes it
1945, pages 303-327.
426
A plurality of norms forming one system
the local communities all together form the
constitutes an order. This order may be a
national community, e.g. a federal system of
state, a city, a corporation, a factory, etc.
government.
The unity of an order is based on the fact
that all the
The norms that have a different territorial
norms constituting this order
have the
but the same material sphere of validity
same ground of validity, i.e. they
may
regulate the same subject matter (trade, for
can be traced back to one and the same basic
example), differently for each respective re-
norm.
The basic norm of an order is the one
which determines in what
gion. One of the main reasons for decentral-
way the norms be-
ization is
longing
precisely that it provides the possi-
to the order are to be created, e.g. the
constitution of
bility of the same matter being regulated
a state, the charter of a city
differently for different areas.
or a business corporation. These norms are
valid positive norms insofar as they have
been created in the way prescribed by the
Total and partial
basic norm.
centralization and decentralization
The norms within an order are not all on
the
Centralization and decentra’lization
same level but are divided into several
may be
layers of structure within which the relation
quantitatively of varying degree. This degree
of sub- and superordination prevails. Under
is determined by the relative importance of
this hierarchy of the order, the constitutional
the central and decentral norms of the order.
The « central
norms, for instance, regulate the creation of
» norms are those valid for the
the statutes, and the latter regulate the crea-
whole territory; the « decentral or « local
»
tion of individual norms, i.e., judicial and ad-
norms are those valid only for the territorial
ministrative decisions.
subdivisions. Total centralization exists when
all the norms are valid for the whole terri-
Centralization and decentralization, gen-
tory ; total decentralization becomes realized
erally considered as forms of organization of
when all the norms are valid only for terri-
the state with reference to its territorial di-
torial subdivisions. These are two ideal ex-
vision, are understood as particular forms of
tremes.
But in reality, in an extreme decen-
an order and as a structure in itself establish-
...
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