DECENTRALIZATION

Our researchers aim to promote Alexis de Tocquevilles theory on

Decentralisation in this thesis. Forming a large part of the principle of his
book, Democracy in America, Tocqueville expresses the importance of
Administrative
Decentralization
that
promotes
near-individualistic
institutions formed within the basis of a federalist context or constitution
(Tocqueville, 1840 edit. 2003). Decentralisation, for Tocqueville (2003) was
the basis for the ultimum sucessu of the democracy in America. For him, it
treats federally-laden institutions as the most important asset of the state as
it has the power to focus more in an in-depth way on its own scope of affairs.
Central institutions, for him, are merely a necessary equilibrium to promote
the legitimacy of the government even if it was merely for national security
and diplomatic concerns. By this sentiment, it is clear that he believes that
democracy in America was indeed compatible to the system and that that
particular democracy, bounded by local institutions, concerned for individual
concerns, was an ideal type if one wishes to be the same as democratic
America. It is true, then, that civic welfare and the common will is, indeed,
the primal factor as to why such federal institutions did exist and even
persist in todays time.
Tocqueville (2003) believed that it is unjust and un-committed to
transfer basic human privileges to a higher collective than to process it in a
hourglass manner. For him, commitment stems from security: If the people
know that they are safe and within the presence of a very close authority or
guardian, they will be more open to societal change as trust is built up on
the foundation of commitment and compromise. This key-factor is
fundamental when it comes to dealing with certain ethnography.
Ethnocentrism of tribes most often distrust the state, yet, with secure
dealings and legit-never-latent benefits, this distrust can be averted in the
just, rightful, and publicly acceptable manner.
Tocqueville (2003) aimed to prove the effectiveness of the American
Government. Based on his justifications, he successfully opened the doors of
liberalist sentiment particularly that of decentralisation. Perhaps, closure,
security, and trust is what lacks from the mind sets of the many ethnic tribes
of today. The researches of this thesis, basing from Tocquevilles basic
perception of decentralisation and the corresponding benefits, will see if,
indeed, the government of the Philippines is in legitimate terms with the
natives in following a decentralist or semi-decentralist system. In using this
theory as fundamental basis of the research, we will see if the government is

truly capable of distributing its fundamental

communities, in particular, the natives.

service

to

the

local