Local Democracy Revisited

Dr. Hiltrud Nassmacher; karl h nassmacher Nassmacher

Authors

Dr. Hiltrud Nassmacher
karl h nassmacher Nassmacher

Keywords:

Abstract

The reform of institutional arrangements at the local level, especially the personalisation of executive power and the implementation of new options to participate, was expected to reinforce local democracy. However, there were doubts from the start as to whether this goal could be achieved, because institutional reforms were combined with the implementation of New Public Management. After more than a decade, an evaluation of the adopted measures in major western democracies seems appropriate. The comparative analysis draws on empirical studies conducted over three decades. Because of available data that is extremely difficult to compose for all western democracies, decision making procedures have been neglected in comparative empirical research. The evaluation presented here includes a puzzle of findings, which underpin future prospects of continuing reforms. The result is that a lack of accountability and control prevents democratization. Furthermore, measures taken to improve direct citizen participation have not achieved their goal.

Downloads

How to Cite

Local Democracy Revisited. (2013). Global Journal of Human-Social Science, 13(13), 47-55. https://socialscienceresearch.org/index.php/GJHSS/article/view/

Download Citation

References

H. Anheier (1997) Einführung. 13-28.

H. Anheier (1997) Der Dritte Sektor in Zahlen: einsozial-ökonomisches Portrait. 29-74.

H. Anheier, E. Priller, W. Seibel, A. Zimmer Der Dritte Sektor in Deutschland. Organizational zwischen Staatund Marktimgesell schaftlichen Wandel.

B. Barber (1984) Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics in a New Age (Berkely et al.

J. Bogumil (2001) Modernisierunglokaler Politik.

J. Bogumil, L. Holtkamp (2002) Bogumil, J. & Holtkamp, L., 2002, Die Bürgerkom- muneals Zusammenspiel von representative, direkter und cooperative Demokratie (Hagen: Arbeitspapiereaus der Fernuniversität, polis Nr.

R. Dahl (1961) Who Governs?.

R. Dalton, S. Scarrow, B. Cain (2003) New Forms of Democracy? Reform and Transformation of Democratic Institutions. 1-22.

Todd Ely, Benoy Jacob (2013) Beating the Clock: Strategic Management under the Threat of Direct Democracy. 73(1), 38-48. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2012.02594.x

Matt Evans (2010) Electoral Reform and Political Pluralism in Local Government. 16(3), 394-413. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068809341052

R. Frey, K. Nassmacher (1975) Parlamentarisierung der Kommunalpolitik. 2, 195-212.

C. Game, S. Leach (1996) Political Parties and Local Democracy. 127-149.

H. Geser (1999) The Local Party as an Object of Interdisciplinary Comparative Study: Some Steps Toward Theoretical Integration. 3-43.

E. Guerin, E. Kerrouche (2008) From Amateurs to Professionals: The Changing Face of Local Elected Representatives in Europe. 34(2), 179-201. https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930701852260

F. Hunter (1953) Community Power Structure.

P. John (2001) Local Governance in Western Europe.

P. John, M. Saiz (1999) Local Parties in Comparative Perspective. 44-73.

P. Kevenhörster (1979) Politik ohne Parteien?. 279-340.

D. King, G. Stoker (1996) Rethinking Local Democracy.

V. Kunz (2000) Parteien und kommunale Haushaltspolitik im Städtevergleich, Eine empirische Analyse zum Einfluß partei politischer Mehrheiten.

A. Ladner (1991) Politische Gemeinde, kommunale Parteien und locale Politik.

Andreas Ladner, Michael Brändle (1999) Does Direct Democracy Matter for Political Parties?. 5(3), 283-302. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068899005003002

Lowndes, V. al (2001) Trends in Public Participation: Part 2 - Citizens' Perspectives. 79(2), 445-455. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9299.00264

M. Margolis, D. Resnick (1996) Responsible Political Parties and the Decentering of American Metropolitan Areas. 178-196.

J. Masson (1985) Alberta's local Governments and their Politics.

S. Müller, T. Rauschenberg (2002) Das soziale Ehrenamt. Nützliche Arbeit zum Nulltarif.

H. Naßmacher (2001) Naßmacher, H., 2001, Die Bedeutung der Kommu nen und der Kommunalpolitikfür den Aufstieg neuer Parteien, Zeitschriftfür Parlamentsfragen, 32/. 1, 3-18.

H. Naßmacher (2006) Baustelle Stadt.

H. Naßmacher, K. Naßmacher (2007) Kommunalpolitik in Deutschland.

S. Orellana (2010) How Electoral Systems Can Influence Policy Innovation. 38(4), 613-628.

O. (2003) Power to the People. A pervasive web will increase demands for direct democracy. 13-15.

A. Phillips (1996) Feminism and the Attractions of the Local. 111-129.

Theodore Poister, Gregory Streib (1994) Municipal Management Tools from 1976 to 1993: An Overview and Update. 18(2), 115. https://doi.org/10.2307/3380641

Theodore Poister, Gregory Streib (2005) Elements of Strategic Planning and Management in Municipal Government: Status after Two Decades. 65(1), 45-56. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2005.00429.x

L. Pratchett (1999) New Technologies and the Modernization of Local Government: an Analysis of Biases and Constraints. 4, 731-750.

L. Pratchett, David Wilson (1996) Pratchett, L. & Wilson, David (eds.), 1996, Local Democracy and Local Government (New York: St.

D. Prior (1995) Citizenship. Rights Community and Participation.

C. Purcal (1993) Kommunalparteien-Eine Untersuchung von Struktur und Funktionen politischer Vereinigungen in der kanadischen Stadt Vancouver.

R. Putnam (2000) Bowling alone. The Collapse and Revival of American Community.

U. Rabe-Kleberg (1992) Wenn der Beruf zum Ehrenamt wird. Auf dem Weg zu neuartigen Arbeitsver hältnissen in sozialen Berufen. 87-102.

Alejandro Rodriguez, Alvin Brown (2012) Urban Governance Reform Index: An Alignment of Traditional Reform and Public Choice Propositions. 13(3), 229-243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11115-012-0196-5

M. Saiz (1999) Do Political Partie Matter in the U.S. Cities?. 171-190.

M. Saiz, H. Geser (1999) Local Parties in Political and Organizational Perspective.

Susan Scarrow (1999) Democracy Within - and Without - Parties: Introduction. 5(3), 275-282. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068899005003001

Susan Scarrow (1999) Parties and the Expansion of Direct Democray: Who Benefits?. 5(3), 341-362. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354068899005003005

K. Schedler, I. Proeller (2000) New Public Management.

R. Schmalz-Bruns (1995) Reflexive Demokratietheorie: die demokratische Transformation moderner Politik.

P. Seyd, P. Whiteley (2002) New Labour's Grassroots.

Theda Skocpol (2004) Voice and Inequality: The Transformation of American Civic Democracy. 2(1), 3-20. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1537592704000593

Steyvers, K. al (2008) From Princeps to President? Comparing Local Political Leadership Transformation. 34(2), 131-146. https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930701852179

S. Stöbe-Blossey (2001) Verbände und Sozialpolitik: Das Beispiel der Jugendhilfe. 159-181.

G. Stoker (1996) Introduction: Normative Theories of Local Government and Democracy. 1-27.

Gerry Stoker (1991) Introduction: Trends in European Local Government. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-21321-4

S. Vabo (2000) New Organisational Solutions in Norwegian Local Council Pzzling Rol for Local Politicians?. 23, 344-367.

Uwe Wagschal (1997) Direct Democracy and Public Policymaking. 17(2), 223-245. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0143814x0000355x

Susan Welch (1990) The Impact of At-Large Elections on the Representation of Blacks and Hispanics. 52(4), 1050-1076. https://doi.org/10.2307/2131682

H. Wollmann (1998) Modernisierung der kommunalen Politik- und Verwaltungswelt- Zwischen Demokratie und Managements chub. 400-438.

Hellmut Wollmann (2008) Reforming Local Leadership and Local Democracy: The Cases of England, Sweden, Germany and France in Comparative Perspective. 34(2), 279-298. https://doi.org/10.1080/03003930701852344

A. Zimmer, S. Nährlich (2000) Engagierte Burgers haft, Traditional und Perspektiven.

A. Zimmer, B. Weßels (2001) Verbände und Demokratie in Deutschland.

J. Zimmerman (1999) the New England Town Meeting. Democracy in Action.