Prepared by: Eva Sheikh Moussa
Reviewed and Edited by: Sawsan Rashid and Hakim Ahmad
Research Problem:
Does Legislative Decree No. 107 and its subsequent amendments genuinely transfer powers and resources to local administrative units, or does it reinforce centralized control under the guise of decentralization?
Research Objective:
This study aims to provide a critical analysis of Syria’s Legislative Decree No. 107 of 2011, along with its 2015 amendments, which regulate local administration. The analysis assesses the extent to which the decree aligns with the principles of administrative and political decentralization. The study scrutinizes the text of the decree, highlighting the fundamental contradiction between its stated goals of promoting decentralization and the centralist mechanisms embedded within its legal framework.
Methodology:
- Comparative legal analysis: A comparison of the decree’s provisions with international decentralization standards, drawing on key documents from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Bank.
- Structural analysis: An examination of the balance of authority between local units and the central government.
- Evaluation model: Assessment of the gap between legal text and actual implementation across three core dimensions: autonomy, financing, and participation.
Introduction
Legislative Decree No. 107 of 2011 and its 2015 amendments represent an official attempt to regulate local administration in Syria under the banner of promoting administrative and financial decentralization. However, a close analysis of the decree’s provisions reveals a fundamental contradiction between its stated objectives and its legal framework, which ultimately preserves the dominance of centralized authority. Accordingly, this study aims to:
- Analyze the core provisions of the decree.
- Uncover mechanisms that reinforce centralization.
- Propose amendments to enable genuine decentralization.
