Modest Administrative Decentralization In Lebanon And Its Expansion Plans

Ghadir El Alayli December 2020

The paper starts by explaining the notion of administrative decentralization and setting it apart from other notions. Then, it proceeds to exploring the disadvantages of a narrow version of administrative decentralization and advantages of an expanded one. The paper outlines next the key proposals and projects of administrative decentralization in Lebanon in modern history and in the present. The main features of the administrative decentralization draft law under discussion are then tackled. The paper later presents notes and recommendations about the mentioned draft law. Also, it gives an overview of the housing crisis in Lebanon, indicating the role of the sought decentralization in this regard. The paper concludes with a comparison between expanding administrative decentralization and reforming the Municipalities’ Law, knowing that both were topics of discussion of the two ad hoc parliamentary sub-committees shortly before the public protests broke out in Lebanon.