The three types of power distribution, that structure decentralization in South America

Abstract In research about state and public administration, it is common to perform an analysis of its structure, function, form and type. However, on some occasions, these general categories do not reveal the distribution of attributions or real power in their different territorial levels. This report, through a historical-institutional review of the last 50 years in South American countries, proposes the existence of characteristic power structures that remain in time with gradual changes that maintains the essence of its historical origin and, others that are formed as a result of disruptive changes that modify the dominant paradigms. The existence of these structures shows three characteristic types that are called compound, integrated and simple.

摘要 在国家与公共行政研究范畴内，学界通常会对其结构、功能、形式与类型进行系统性分析。然而在部分情形下，这类通用分类无法展现其在不同层级行政区域中的权责分配与实际权力分布格局。本报告通过对南美国家过去50年开展历史-制度视角的回顾研究，提出两类具有典型特征的权力结构：一类随时间推移发生渐进式变革，但始终保留其历史起源的核心本质；另一类则因颠覆性变革打破原有主导范式而形成。此类权力结构可归纳为复合、整合与简单三种典型类型。