International Journal of Political Science (IJPS) Volume 3, Issue 3, 2017, PP 9-16 ISSN 2454-9452 http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2454-9452.0303002 www.arcjournals.org International Journal of Political Science (IJPS) Page | 9 Counter Factual Reasoning for the Decentralized System of Public Administration Theory: Building on Insights from Empirical Literature and the Performance of Tanzanian Local Government Dr. Wilfred U. Lameck Lecturer in the School of Public Administration and Management of Mzumbe University Abstract: Counter factual reasoning is a concept that involves constructive representation in which the researchers imagine the alternative to existing theoretical assumption, constructs and models. In this article, the concept is applied to develop an alternative thinking concerning the performance of decentralized system of public administration in Tanzania. Overall, a theory of public administration predicts four main objectives to be realized by the decentralized system. This includes improved local democracy, allocative efficiency, cost efficiency and tailor made services. On the contrary, in developing countries and Tanzania in particular, these objectives have not been fully attained. Although a theory and empirical literature suggest some factors explaining its short fall, overall it does not paint a full picture on the factors which are responsible for its failure. Instead, the mainstream literature focus on formal design of the system and the availability of resources and it neglects the informal institutions which guide the behavior of the actors involved in service delivery. In order to shed light on this puzzle, this article uses problematization method of counterfactual reasoning to develop an alternative model. The model is grounded on social logical institutionalism which suggests that goals and interests of actors are not given by nature, but result from the expectations created by the formal and informal institutions. This suggest that to understand why the performance of the decentralized system falls short, it is necessary to take into account: the formal institutions, the informal institutions and the availability of resources as a condition for service delivery. Therefore, unlike the default model which suggest two variables: the design of the system and the availability of resources, the alternative model suggests three variables: the formal design of the system, informal institutions and the availability of resources as explanatory factors to the performance of decentralized system of public administration in Tanzania. 1. INTRODUCTION Counter factual reasoning is a theory building technique which involves constructive representation in which researchers imagine the alternative to existing theoretical assumption, constructs and models with the purpose of advancing knowledge by creating new connection and exploring its practical implications [10,27] .The application of counter factual reasoning can be done by using different techniques. Some of these techniques include discipline imagination which involves development of different alternatives to existing theory by using trial and error thinking. In precise, it involves consistent application of selection criteria such as novelty and interesting to develop the best alternative [41] . Second technique used is constructive explanation in which an explanation is an answer to constructive question. For example, it sets a question on why P rather than Q which means P is the phenomenon to be explained and Q is an alternative [38] . Third technique used is problematization method which involves; challenging the underlying assumption in the literature through critical review and suggesting the alternative to existing assumptions and models. It involves asking how and to what extent it would be possible to think differently instead of what is already known [1] . Since the goal of this article is to develop an alternative thinking concerning the performance of decentralized system of public administration in Tanzania, this last technique was used. In Tanzania, the decentralized system of Public Administration was first adopted by the colonial government through establishment of local governments system in 1919. The local government system was further empowered by 1926 Native authorities’ ordinance which permitted chiefs to exercise substantial executive, judicial and administrative power. It also provided for the establishment of British district government officers who were appointed to advise the chiefs [28] .