What is redistricting - Essay Example

Redistricting Redistricting In order to proceed with the discussion, it is important to ask questions for guidance. For instance, what is redistricting and is it a good way for poor governance and poverty alleviation in developing countries? Further, does creating more districts increase people’s representation? Lastly, does redistricting influence alleviation of poverty, and if yes, what more can be put in place to embrace redistricting in developing places? Redistricting is a form of governance that is concerned about the transfer of authority from central governance to local or counties that have certain geographical power.

Redistricting as seen in the newly created districts is a good form of governance since it includes allocation of power and equal distribution of resources/devolution to the people at local level. For example, in developing countries, redistricting is vital because it calls for governments to have local governments or municipalities to ensure that national resources are distributed to the grass root level rather than concentrate at a central place. In addition, it calls for inclusive and democratic principles that are elements of good governance.

Redistricting is significant to economic prosperity, expanded social structure incorporating a middle class that is expanding, and a celebrated national culture that encourage diversity. All the features of good governance include inclusion, accountability, and transparency, respect of rule of law, participation, and responsiveness, which developing countries need to adopt in order to prosper or develop (Etisham & Vito, 2002). Creating more districts will ensure that each district has equal or almost same number of voters which will need the government to reapportion seats between States.

It is significant to note that creating more districts will increase the number of voting districts which in turn could raise the influence of minority people or voters. Redistricting will present a good chance for all round representation in that it would encourage more minorities to vie or run for important seats in government. Further, minority groups such as African American will be motivated to vote for leaders of their choice and the party they like (Blair, 2009). Redistricting can lead to poverty reduction in developing States or States with minority groups if administrations shun corruption and usurping of power, which is a major hindrance to devolution.

This is because if local or regional governments are corrupt, the system regenerates itself in that political leaders utilize local governments as ways to propagate their personal interests at the expense of the entire region or district. In order to reduce poverty and increase community participation, redistricting brings about empowerment, inclusion, and participation to the governed which in developing countries implies the rural poor (Bardhan & Dilip, 2000). Since redistricting is about devolution, the level of poverty in some States can diminish if governments in these countries adopt systems that support transfer of resources, administrative responsibilities, and authority/power from central government to local or regional authorities or governments.

In addition, redistricting calls for deconcentration. This implies transfer of resources and functions such as workforce by the central government from urban metropolis to local authorities. Deconcentration is important since decision-making is instant under the tenet of subsidiary. The tenet of subsidiary requires that functions be allocated to the lowest person in power at which they can be well-performed (Fagut, 2004). There are immense benefits that accrue from subsidiary tenet in that it creates employment in low regions without shifting central authority.

However, redistricting leads to delegation of authority to the lowest public enterprise without stating the duration of the shift with the main reason being to avoid daily operation of the new body and to bypass central authority. References Bardhan, P. K & Dilip, M. (2000). Capture and Governance at local and national levels’, American Economic Review, vol. 90, no. 2, pp.135–139. Blair, H. (2000). Participation and accountability at the periphery: democratic local Governance in six countries’, World Development, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 21–39. Etisham, A & Vito, T. (2002). Managing fiscal decentralization.

London: Routledge. Faguet, J. (2004). Does decentralization increase responsiveness to local needs? New York, NY: Kindle Books. World Bank .(1999). Beyond the centre: decentralizing the state, the World Bank, Washington, DC.