| Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools. |
Sustainable Development in ThailandLessons From Implementing Local Agenda 21 in Three CitiesKyoto University, Japan
Kyoto University, Japan This article examines the effect of development assistance programs on Local Agenda 21 (LA21) programs in three municipalities of Thailand. First, the article examines institutional changes in Thailand geared toward decentralization. Second, the article analyzes the effect based on the frameworks of Noda and Ouchi for the level of participation. The results indicate that participation was a top—down participation of local residents who presumed some benefits from the municipality in exchange for their attendance in meetings. Third, the article evaluates the effect in terms of project efficiency. The results show that municipalities conducted most of the actions declared in their LA21 but the sustainability of these actions is questionable. It is contended that LA21 has its limitations as a planning guide for sustainable cities in developing countries. An assistance program should be designed that helps the government of a developing country to institutionalize meaningful involvement for a participatory environmental policy formation.
Key Words: development aid Local Agenda 21 Thailand subsidiarity principle public participation project efficiency
The Journal of Environment & Development, Vol. 16, No. 3,
269-289 (2007) | ||