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The Oxford Handbook of Local and Regional Democracy in Europe analyses the state of play of democracy at the subnational level in the 27 member states of the EU plus Norway and Switzerland. It places subnational democracy in the context of the distinctive Anglo, the French, the German and Scandinavian state traditions in Europe asking to what extent these are still relevant today. The Handbook adapts Lijphart's theory of democracy and applies it to the subnational levels in all the country chapters. A key theoretical issue is whether subnational (regional and local) democracy is derived from national democracy or whether it is legitimate in its own right. Besides these theoretical concerns it focuses on the practice of democracy: the roles of political parties and interest groups and also how subnational political institutions relate to the ordinary citizen. This can take the form of local referendums or other mechanisms of participation. The Handbook reveals a wide variety of practices across Europe in this regard. Local financial systems also reveal a great variety. Finally, each chapter examines the challenges facing subnational democracy but also the opportunities available to them to enhance their democratic systems. Among the challenges identified are: Europeanization, globalization, but also citizens disaffection and switch-off from politics. Some countries have confronted these challenges more successfully than others but all countries face them. An important aspect of the Handbook is the inclusion of all the countries of East and Central Europe plus Cyprus and Malta, who joined the EU in 2004 and 2007. This is the first time they have been examined alongside the countries of Western Europe from the angle of subnational democracy.
This publication examines the structure of local and regional government in the Czech Republic. It considers: the legal framework; authority structures and division of powers; forms of direct citizen participation in the decision-making process; the status of representatives; financial and human resources; and the supervision of local government activities.
Prepared under the authority of the Steering Committee on Local and Regional Democracy (CDLR), it examines local and regional aspects of self-government. For Poland the principles of local democracy are enshrined in the Constitution, which guarantees a decentralised government, the effective status of regional municipalities, and the rights of local councils, and citizens to elect them without hindrance. The provision, structure and status of the various bodies which enact local democracy are set out. The reform of public administration has established two tiers of local government, powiats and voivodeships, which has effectively decentralized a large number of central government powers. Poland though is still a unitary state, and further developments will be needed to allow local democracy to flourish.
Explores ways to make democracy work better, with particular focus on the integral role of local institutions.
Local Politics: A Resource for Democracy in Western Europe? examines the relationship between local institutional design and citizens' attitudes toward democracy. Vetter highlights the conditions under which locally socialized political orientations may serve as a resource for democracy at higher system levels.