Decentralization and Women Leadership A Comparative Study between Egypt and Poland (1988-2008)

Abstract

The central question in this thesis is whether decentralization would enhance women leadership. The theoretical frame of decentralization was reviewed. Also leadership, the concept, definition, and types, were discussed and emphasis on women leadership was outlined. According to the philosophy of the Euro-Mediterranean studies, a comparison was exercised between Egypt and Poland; an East European country that was transformed from a communist to a liberal country fulfilling the criteria of EU membership. A time frame was defined; in Egypt it covered the period from 1988 to 2008, in Poland it covered two distinctive periods; i.e. before 1989 (the collapse of the Soviet Union) and following that date till 2008. The development of changes leading to or passing to decentralization was discussed and at the same time women leadership was reported. In the executive division of the state institutions, positions above director general up to head of state were considered as leadership positions, and a comparison between their percentage on the national level and on the local level was compared. In the elected councils, the parliament with its two chambers was considered as a central or national level whereas the local popular councils at different levels was considered as decentralized or local level; they were all considered as leadership positions and comparison between the national and sub-national levels was discussed. 1 A qualitative comparison between the two countries was outlined and points of similarities and dissimilarities were pointed out. In Egypt, it was possible to interview a number of female leaders, the majority of whom were members of the local councils, an experiment which could not be exercised in the Polish experience. In Egypt there seems to be a positive relationship between decentralization and women leadership as evidenced by greater chances for women leadership on the local level. In Poland on the contrary, such relation could not be traced and even there seems to be a negative relation.