Module 5

 

Blog entry #8:

Part 1: Re-Read the section on subsidiarity from last week’s PowerPoint slide handout. Also do some research online to learn more about this concept. Define “subsidiarity” in your own words. How is the concept of subsidiarity as discussed in this passage related to “devolution” as described in your textbook?

From the PowerPoint that we were given the principal subsidiarity is, that “society is based on collectives or communities of people ranging from small groups or families to larger national and international institutions”. From my online research I have found out that subsidiarity is an organizing principle; where the smallest, lowest or least centralized authority. Political decisions or actions should be acted upon by the local level if possible, rather than the Federal or State government.

I would say that devolution and subsidiarity are similar, if not the same concept. When you look at both definitions, they both want to make sure that the local levels of government can have a higher level of autonomy in their region. By doing this the central government is giving the states and local governments the ability to handle their own affairs, without the central government getting involved. Usually, the state and local government have a better idea on how to handle their own affairs or come up with their own ideas to fix key issues in their region.

Part 2: Google “devolution in Kenya” for an ambitious example of how governments might use devolution to achieve desirable level of subsidiarity. Can you think of some examples of devolution from the US? Any time you hear the Federal government say (paraphrasing) “leave it up to the states,” that might be an example of devolution. Similarly, a state government saying “leave it up to the counties,” or a county government saying “leave it up to the individual cities.”

From my understanding of it in 2010 the Constitution of Kenya had a turning point where it reconfigured a balance of power by devolving power and responsibilities from the national government to 47 elected county governments. Again, reinforcing that idea of giving local governments a level of autonomy that they haven’t experienced before. Within the first five years of doing this there has been progressive democratizations and expansion of political space in marginalized communities in Kenya. These counties have showed a unique strength and resources for self-reliance.

I believe we talked about this briefly in our zoom meeting, some of the examples that we talked about where the legalization of marijuana, same-sex marriage, and the Trump administration allowing states to handle Covid-19 vaccines distribution. It is interesting to point out that California allowed same-sex couples to get married, but the federal government decided to make these marriages void.