Local governance and democracy: main developments and challenges Flashcards
Def. local government
local government is a specific institutions or entities created by various forms of legislation to deliver a range of specific services to a relatively small geographically delineated area
def. local governance
local goverannce is the process of formulation and execution of collective action at local level: it encompasses the direct and indrect roles of formal institutions of local government as well as informal norms, networks, community orgnaizations in pursuing collective action
local government settings and competences are defined by (5)
national consitutions (Italy), state consitutions (US), ordinary legislation of a higher level of central gov. (UK) , provincial or state legislation (Canada), executive order (China)
local gov.’ autonomy from central gov.
often: policy initatives in areas not addressed by another governmental layer, sometimes: restricted by central gov.
differences of local government systems (6)
number of tiers of government
level of of autonomy
tasks and competences
size of authorities
political and governance set-up
form of democracy
reasons for specific responsibilities can lay in (6)
cost-benefit spillovers
consumer preferences
budgetary choices
economies of scale
economies of scope
proximity to beneficiaries
roles and responsibility of local gov. in federal state vs. unitary state
oversight of local public services vs. act on behalf of central gov.
allocation of local gov.’ functions in federal state
constution
functions of a local gov. in a federal state
more variable (education, law enforcement, local gov.)
strengths of local gov. in federal state (5)
provides check and balances
diversity
reduced overloads at the center
offers opportunity for policy ecperiments
increases competition between provinces
weaknesses of local gov. in federal states (5)
decision-making is slow, division between provinces, regarding national interst, accountability, inequality
characteristics of local gov. (4)
different nature, size, number of units, functions
what is regional government in charge of (3)
depending on country: economic development, health, public infrstructure, transport
def. centre-periphery relations: dual approach
local gov. is seen as an organization separate from the center -> retains free standing status
def. centre-periphery relations: fused system
central and local government are a combined public authority
roles and responsibilities of local governance
preserving the life and liberty of local residents
democratic participation and civic dialogue
environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive local development
improve the quality of life
democratic challenges with local governance (5)
requires more capacities, re-examination of citizen-state relations, urbanisation, networking, crisis of representative democracy vs. participatory democracy
conceptual and analytical challenges of local governance (2)
not well researched, loss of local governments’ responsbility
critera for “good governance” (5)
accountability, inclusiveness, effectiveness & efficiency, responsiveness, responsibility
def. deconcentration
central government functions are executed by staff in the field
def. decentralization
central government functions are executed by subnational authorities
def. devolution
central government grants some decision-making functions to lower levels
reasons for rescaling government (2)
capacity to formulate and execute policies, increase citizen participation
scale enlargement reforms (2)
merging municipalities, municipal amalgamation
reasons for decentralisation (5)
demand for local democratic control and autonomy (Eastern Europe), response to conflicts (Indonesia), avoid concentration of power or counterweight opposition (India), symbolic (China), incentives by international organisations
size of local governments matters bc. (6)
accountability, political information (better in small), political participation (candidates better in big), policy coordination, economies of scale, transformation of the political landscape
forms of local executive
single executive (direcetly elected mayor)
vs.
plural executive (mayor plus executive committee elected indirectly from council, UK)
electoral arrangements
ward-based election
vs.
proportional representation
how is local government financed?
local revenues (often inadequate), central gov., donor funding, ERDF
what is a problem with local gov. funding (2)
expenditure management, transparency
central - local relations
overbearing control by centre (monitoring, supervision), lack of understanding
special-purpose agencies or bodies
deliver public services on local level (bc. funding isn’t enough) transcending political jurisdiction (e.g. library boards, transit, police commissions)
different partnerships (4)
private and quasi private, community partnerships, public-private partnerships
problems with special-purpose agencies (4)
accountability, budgetary flexibility, legitimacy, responsiveness
