Local Government in Europe: New Perspectives and Democratic Challenges

✍ Scribed by Marta Lackowska (editor); Katarzyna Szmigiel-Rawska (editor); Filipe Teles (editor)

• Publisher: Bristol University Press
• Year: 2021
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 326
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Drawing on classical and emerging research perspectives, this comprehensive book provides an up-to-date review of local government in Europe. Featuring an impressive range of contributors from both eastern and western Europe, the book addresses three main topics: territorial reforms, democratic empowerment of citizens and the role of local leadership, as well as new trends in local finances. Acknowledging their inherent diversity, the book examines the ways that local governments have responded to shared challenges, such as climate change, increasing populism and democratic deficit in order to identify both the variety and communalities between the country-specific features. In doing so, it provides a rich picture of the latest trends in local government, as well as pointing the way for future developments.

✦ Table of Contents

Front Cover
Local Government In Europe: New Perspectives and Democratic Challenges
Copyright information
Table of contents
List of Figures and Tables
Notes on Contributors
Acknowledgments
Preface
Part I The Size of Municipal Reforms: When Size Matters
1 Advancing the Research Agenda on Local Territorial Reforms
Introduction
Inter-municipal cooperation and territorial reforms
Amalgamation and de-amalgamation reforms
SMUs of government in urban governance
A research agenda on territorial reforms: taking time and space seriously
Conclusion
References
2 Too Big to Be Local
Introduction
Policy narratives: shaping and controlling the debate
Researching the narrative and methodological approach
Policy narratives: supporting reorganization and increases in council size
Two-tier, one tier or floods of tears: understanding the contemporary narrative and size myth
The Brobdingnagian policy narrative and local government size in England
Identifying and exploring the Brobdingnagian narrative
Conclusion
References
3 Consequences of Forced Municipal Mergers
Introduction
The larger municipality is created – a conflict-ridden process
Hypotheses – what does the academic literature say?
Details about the data
Empirical analyses and results
Reform and competition hypotheses
Hypotheses concerning local democracy
Implementation hypotheses
Conclusion
Notes
References
4 Local Government Reforms in Denmark and Norway
Introduction
Theoretical perspectives on policy tools
The Norwegian reform
Context of the reform
The reform process
Tool use
The Danish reform
Context of the reform
The reform process
Tool use
Conclusion
Notes
References
5 One Size Does Not Fit All
Introduction
The Spanish municipal map
Homogeneity of the legal framework and its consequences
The electoral system
Functions
Organizational capacity
Financial system
Conclusion
Note
References
6 Institutional Changes and Shifting Roles
Introduction
Theoretical framework and research methods
Local government system typology of vertical and horizontal relations
Research methods
Discussion
Vertical relations
Horizontal relations
Conclusion
Notes
References
7 Territorial Reforms in Bulgaria:
Introduction
State of the Bulgarian municipalities – population, territory, finances
The procedure for the establishment of new municipalities
Municipal divorces (1990–2020) – motives behind municipal splits
Future trends and opportunities for administrative and territorial reform in Bulgaria
Conclusion
Notes
References
8 Participation of Interest Groups at Local Level
Introduction
IMC in Lithuania: an overview
Is network governance approach important in IMC? Model and hypotheses
Network governance and democracy in fostering cooperation
Diversity of actors in cooperative arrangements
Theoretical model and hypothesis: between networks and democratic legitimacy in IMC
Methodological remarks
Dataset
Data sampling and measurement method
Assessment of IMC initiatives: looking for democratic legitimacy evidence
Conclusion
Note
References
Part II Local Democracy and Leadership
9 Municipal Size and the Nationalization of Local Party Systems
Introduction: Three tales of local party systems
The nationalization of local party systems
The bigger, the more nationalized?
Conclusion: Nationalized, localized or regionalized?
Notes
References
10 Co-creating the Tolerant City
Introduction
Place-less power and place-based power
Place-based leadership and the tolerant city
Two examples of inspirational civic leadership
Emerging themes for scholarship and practice
Note
References
11 Urban Leadership
Introduction
In search of differences between German and Polish mayors
General characteristics of the social structure of German and Polish mayors
The notion of democracy as expression of a particular view of human nature
The role perception of German and Polish mayors
Conclusion
Notes
References
12 Urban Climate Leadership in Metropolitan Areas
Introduction
Theoretical background
Urban climate leadership
Political models of local government
Analyzing urban climate leadership in the metropolitan area of Oslo
Exercising political climate leadership by authority
Exercising political climate leadership as a provider
Exercising political climate leadership as a consumer
Exercising political climate leadership through regional partnerships and cooperation
How has the parliamentary model influenced the political climate leadership in Oslo?
Conclusion
Notes
References
Part III Keeping the Pace with a Balanced Balance Sheet
13 Democratic Functions of Local Budgets
Introduction
Post-1990 local public finances in Poland
Local budgets and local democracy
The budget as a framework for political decision-making
Cognitive barriers to participation in local politics
The impact of localism on budgeting
Conclusion
References
14 Does Urban Sprawl Pay Off for the Suburban Municipal Budget in Poland?
Introduction
The impact of urban sprawl on municipal finances
Institutional context – suburbanization and local finance in Poland
Data and method
Results
Conclusions
Appendix
Notes
References
15 Why Tourists Should Pay Local Taxes
Introduction
Why should tourists pay local taxes?
Tourist taxes in European cities
The Polish case: climate matters
Discussion
Conclusion
Notes
References
Index
Back Cover