Anatomy of Autonomy: Assessing the Organizational Capacity and External Environment of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

Abstract

Decentralization and autonomy can potentially increase public sector efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability, as well as fulfill a conflict‐mitigating role. There is no guarantee, however, that decentralization, once implemented, would automatically produce the expected benefits. Using the case of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the Philippines, this article explores the importance of organizational capacity and the cultural, political, and social conditions in the region to explain the performance of the autonomous government. The article concludes that for autonomy to work, the administrative and institutional capacity of the regional government should be revitalized and the current politico‐administrative structure redesigned to accommodate local customs and practices and facilitate a consultative and collegial local governance arrangement.