Local democracy in post-communist Europe

Více o knize

This book is the first volume of a series examining the status of local democracy at the start of a new century. Modern local government, a 19th-century innovation, emerged from urbanization and industrialization, tasked with essential services like street maintenance, waste collection, and sanitation. The breakdown of these services highlights their critical role in urban life, making control over municipalities a significant political issue. In many nations, the democratization of local government was a crucial step toward achieving full national democracy, providing a platform for citizens to engage in governance at a manageable level and serving as a training ground for broader democratic participation. However, as institutions rooted in the industrial era, local governments may struggle to meet the needs of citizens in a post-industrial, globalized context. Signs indicate that citizens in various countries are growing impatient with local governance. Nonetheless, many municipalities are actively seeking to create new avenues for citizen participation and communication, reflecting an ongoing evolution in the relationship between local governments and their communities.