The impact of decentralization on participation in formal organizations in Albania: Lessons for community-based interventions

Abstract

This study examined the impact of decentralization on community participation in formal organizations in post-communist Albania. Do community members take advantage of the new forms of local governance introduced with decentralization? What barriers to participation do they face? The study did not find any support for the theoretical expectation that decentralization promotes greater community engagement with formal organizations. Findings provide insights into how communist legacies and post-communist developments affect perceptions and attitudes toward formal organizations. We discuss several lessons on how to strengthen community participation in formal organizations and inform community-based interventions.