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I often argue that many developing countries that struggle to democratize, especially in the Muslim world, should decentralize and concentrate power at local levels. Local democracy in these places might(keyword, might) work since local populations are more homogeneous and organized and will have less of the sectarian/ethnic competition for the reins of government. And in many cases local figures like tribal chiefs already wield de facto power anyway.
But the down side of that argument is it would empower backwater tribal cunts like this council. I still think that's a lesser evil over dictators commanding large centralized armies and who can build durable international support coalitions like Bashar Assad or Sisi. But its still a huge problem for local democracy in the developing world.
Social trust is the only wealth any nation has, to lose it by forced centralization is a tragedy.