Suchergebnisse

Among European states Nordic countries, including Finland, are often set as examples of countries with high social capital, in which citizens willingly engage into decision-making process. The aim of the article is to verify this assumption and to present diverse attitudes of citizens towards local engagement. The article is based on quantitative data (statistics on civic involvement) as well as qualitative research (interviews with councillors from selected Finnish municipalities). The conclusion points at transformation of Finnish democracy and the fact that paradoxically developed institutions of representative democracy may have a negative influence on the wiliness to apply further, non-electoral mechanisms of civic involvement.

The purpose of this paper is to report on how elected representatives perceive the current status and role of municipal council in governing process. The particular attention is paid to the impact of the introduced in 2002 leadership reform and influence of new participatory framework on council's position and say. The paper draws on empirical data collected in municipalities of Lubelskie region under two, separate research projects in 2015 and 2016. The main research findings indicate that representing residents' interests and controlling the executive constitute the priories for Polish councilors. Local representatives think at the same time that their role in governing process constantly diminishes. The main impact on this situation had the introduction of elected mayors what not only limited council's say but also changed the governing pattern.

The paper draws on the empirical findings of the research exploring the functions of local advisory councils (ACs). ACs are conceptualized as the form of participation placed between 'advising and opinion-giving' and 'co-governance' according to Fung's approach (2006). Youth councils, senior citizen councils, and councils for residents with disabilities – that operate in 65 Polish cities – are put under examination. The article presents the results of the desk research, questionnaire, and interviews with the AC members addressing the issues of the origins of ACs in Poland, their membership and the way members are recruited, and AC functions and their relations with city authorities and community. The authors conclude by pointing to the pro-active role of ACs in local governance, but also indicate that their role as a stakeholder in co-governance requires them to contribute to policy decisions going beyond and above the advice and consultation provided so far.

W wielu państwach europejskich w okresie ostatnich kilkudziesięciu lat zauważyć można transformację lokalnej demokracji przedstawicielskiej. Jest to zarówno wynikiem wdrożenia reform inspirowanych koncepcjami Nowego Zarządzania Publicznego (New Public Management), lokalnego współrządzenia (local governance), zmian o charakterze strukturalno-funkcjonalnym, jak i poszerzających się mechanizmów uczestnictwa obywatelskiego. Ostatnia z tendencji w sposób szczególnie wyraźny uwidacznia się w Polsce, w samorządach dużych miast. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie stosunku radnych do idei i mechanizmów partycypacji obywatelskiej oraz określenie stopnia wpływu tychże na pozycję i rolę rad w procesie rządzenia. Artykuł opiera się na badaniach empirycznych przeprowadzonych w 18 miastach polskich. Wyniki badań wskazują, że radni miejscy generalnie popierają ideę szerszego angażowania mieszkańców w proces decyzyjny. Większość z nich uznaje jednak funkcjonujące w ich miastach formy uczestnictwa obywatelskiego za wystarczające, postulując jednocześnie usprawnienie ich działania. ; Over recent decades, many European countries have witnessed a transformation of local representative democracy. This has resulted both from the reforms inspired by the concepts of New Public Management, local governance, structural and functional changes as well as the expanding mechanisms of citizen participation. The latter trend is especially visible in large Polish cities. The main objectives of this article are to present the attitude of city councilors towards the concept and mechanisms of citizen participation and to examine whether this 'extended participation' influences the status and role played by city councils in the governing process. The article is based on empirical research conducted in 18 Polish cities. The results indicate that elected representatives, in general, support the idea of 'citizens' involvement in the decision-making process. Most of them, however, recognize the current mechanisms of civic engagement as sufficient, promoting the need to streamline their operation.

Over recent decades, many European countries have witnessed a transformation of local representative democracy. This has resulted both from the reforms inspired by the concepts of New Public Management, local governance, structural and functional changes as well as the expanding mechanisms of citizen participation. The latter trend is especially visible in large Polish cities. The main objectives of this article are to present the attitude of city councilors towards the concept and mechanisms of citizen participation and to examine whether this 'extended participation' influences the status and role played by city councils in the governing process. The article is based on empirical research conducted in 18 Polish cities. The results indicate that elected representatives, in general, support the idea of 'citizens' involvement in the decision-making process. Most of them, however, recognize the current mechanisms of civic engagement as sufficient, promoting the need to streamline their operation. ; W wielu państwach europejskich w okresie ostatnich kilkudziesięciu lat zauważyć można transformację lokalnej demokracji przedstawicielskiej. Jest to zarówno wynikiem wdrożenia reform inspirowanych koncepcjami Nowego Zarządzania Publicznego (New Public Management), lokalnego współrządzenia (local governance), zmian o charakterze strukturalno-funkcjonalnym, jak i poszerzających się mechanizmów uczestnictwa obywatelskiego. Ostatnia z tendencji w sposób szczególnie wyraźny uwidacznia się w Polsce, w samorządach dużych miast. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie stosunku radnych do idei i mechanizmów partycypacji obywatelskiej oraz określenie stopnia wpływu tychże na pozycję i rolę rad w procesie rządzenia. Artykuł opiera się na badaniach empirycznych przeprowadzonych w 18 miastach polskich. Wyniki badań wskazują, że radni miejscy generalnie popierają ideę szerszego angażowania mieszkańców w proces decyzyjny. Większość z nich uznaje jednak funkcjonujące w ich miastach formy uczestnictwa obywatelskiego za wystarczające, postulując jednocześnie usprawnienie ich działania.

Recently, many local governments have tried to improve their efficiency and effectiveness by establishing partnerships with stakeholders such as citizens and third sector organizations, and not only with private companies as it was the case in the 1980s. Nevertheless, to foster productive partner relations between the local government and the local community some conditions must be fulfilled. The article focuses on citizen activity, as well as its forms and dimensions, as one of the most important prerequisites for an effective partnership. The analysis is based on the preliminary findings from the Self-Government Activity Project (Pol. Projekt Aktywności Samorządowej – PAS) that has been realised by seven local governments since February 2011. The article concludes that with regard to Poland citizens' indifference might be one of the most significant obstacles towards any close cooperation with local authorities. The analysis proves, however, that attempts at establishing partner relations also face other obstacles, inter alia, a poor awareness of local issues, lack of trust in local authorities, different perspective on local problems and objections raised by the elected representatives.