Suchergebnisse

Local self‑governments and Europeanization of local Poland: sociological, pragmatic and axiological aspects
The article discusses the sources of positive attitudes toward the European integration in local communities and among local elites. The economic reasons (European funds) are important, but the socio‑cultural aspects of the support is very significant. The Polish local communities have many reasons to be afraid of the European integration, because of their backwardness, lack of knowledge, low human capital, and introductory negative influence of the europeization on agriculture and local industry. In spite of all of these, local communities and local elites have been supporting the integration since its beginning. The citizens treated this as common cultural advance. Under the new conditions, the local communities experienced revitalization of the local identity. For the local elites the Europeanization means modernization of local governments and their adaptation to new standards of governance. In effect there is broad support for emerging multilevel government in the European Union, perceived as a subsidiary relation within the EU.

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