Suchergebnisse

Article describes the issues of shaping the structures of local government administration considering new concepts of public management. Attention will be focused on governance, which determines two paradigms of public administration: public administration aimed at cooperation and organized in a network manner. Will evaluate the degree of their impact on the structure of local government administration in Poland. Further considerations will aim to identify the relationship between the quality of governance and administrative structure of local government. The quality of governance is recognized (by the World Bank) in six dimensions of good governance, which is a function of appropriately shaped bodies. Striving to meet the criteria of good governance may involve restrictions on the use of cooperation and networking paradigms. ; Artykuł podejmuje problematykę kształtowania struktur administracji samorządowej w świetle nowych koncepcji funkcjonowania sektora publicznego. Uwaga została skoncentrowana na współzarządzaniu, które wyznacza dwa paradygmaty administracji publicznej: administrację publiczną ukierunkowaną na współpracę oraz zorganizowaną w sposób sieciowy. Ocenie poddany został stopień ich wpływu na kształtowanie struktury administracji samorządowej w Polsce. Dalsze rozważania miały na celu identyfikację związku pomiędzy jakością rządzenia a strukturą administracyjną samorządu terytorialnego. Jakość rządzenia ujmowana jest (za Bankiem Światowym) w sześciu wymiarach dobrego rządzenia, które z kolei jest funkcją odpowiednio ukształtowanych instytucji. Dążenie do spełnienia kryteriów dobrego rządzenia może wiązać się z ograniczeniami w stosowaniu paradygmatów współpracy i sieci.

Tekst analizira značenje i razumijevanje pojma governance te njegov prijevod na hrvatski jezik. Vlade, izvršne vlasti, vladajući (governing) pristupom odozgo, izdavanjem naloga i kontroliranjem, odnosno upravljanjem, ne mogu se učinkovito i djelotvorno nositi s problemima i izazovima. Kako bi odgovorile na takve izazove, vlade prihvaćaju vladanje odozdo, po horizontalnom načelu suradnje s ostalim dionicima, pa su onda u prilici mobilizirati raspoložive resurse, izgraditi povjerenje i novu mrežu suradnje te razviti koncept vladavine (governance). Koncept dobre vladavine u Europskoj uniji je alat kojim se jačaju procesi konvergencije. Istraživanja o vladavini u Hrvatskoj su rijetka, a radovi o toj temi uglavnom analiziraju vladavinu, dobru vladavinu i višerazinsku vladavinu kao novu upravnu doktrinu. Imajući u vidu značenje pojma governance u engleskom jeziku te njegovo značenje u odnosu na druge pojmove, drži se da ga na hrvatski jezik treba prevoditi kao vladavina. Analizira se i značenje pojmova: affordability, social entrepreneurship, eligibility i resilience te se predlaže prevođenje na hrvatski jezik. ; The paper analyses the meaning and understanding of the term governance and its translation into Croatian. Governments, executive authorities, governing in a top-down approach, issuing orders, and controlling, administering, cannot effectively and efficiently deal with the problems and challenges. To meet such challenges, governments accept bottom-up governance, based on the horizontal principle of cooperation with other stakeholders, which enables them to mobilize available resources, build the trust and a new network of cooperation, and develop the concept of governance. The concept of good governance in the European Union is a tool that strengthens convergence processes. Research on the implementation of the concept of governance in Croatia is rare, and papers mainly analyse governance, good governance, and multilevel governance as a new administrative doctrine. Having in mind the meaning of the term governance in English, and its meaning in relation to other terms, it is held that it should be translated into Croatian as vladavina, not as upravljanje. In addition, the meaning of the terms: affordability, social entrepreneurship, eligibility, and resilience are analysed and the terms for their translation into Croatian are proposed.

Pojam "centralizacije" počeo se koristiti u Francuskoj krajem 18. stoljeća kada je nakon revolucije stvorena nova struktura vlade. Pojam "decentralizacije" u upotrebu je ušao početkom 19. stoljeća. Ideje slobode i decentralizacije provodili su tijekom 19. i 20. stoljeća protudrţavni politički aktivisti koji su sebe nazivali "anarhistima", "libertarijancima", pa čak i decentralistima. Tocqueville, jedan od zagovornika decentralizacije je istaknuo da decentralizacija ima ne samo administrativnu vrijednost već i graĎansku dimenziju, jer povećava mogućnosti za graĎane da se zainteresiraju za javne poslove. I od akumulacije tih lokalnih, aktivnih, pronicljivih sloboda, raĎa se najučinkovitija protuteţa središnjoj vladi, čak i ako bi bila podrţavana od neosobne, kolektivne volje. Veliki broj zemalja u razvoju i tranzicijskih zemalja započeo je neki oblik programa decentralizacije. Taj je trend povezan sa sve većim zanimanjem za ulogu civilnog društva i privatnog sektora kao partnera vladama u traţenju novih načina pruţanja usluga. Decentralizacija upravljanja i jačanje kapaciteta lokalne uprave dijelom je i funkcija širih društvenih trendova, što uključuje, na primjer, općenito rastuće nepovjerenje u vladu, propast nekih od najcentraliziranijih reţima na svijetu (npr. Sovjetskog Saveza) i novonastale separatističke zahtjeve koji se rutinski pojavljuju u pojedinim dijelovima svijeta. Pokret prema lokalnoj odgovornosti i većoj kontroli nad nečijom sudbinom nije, meĎutim, rezultat samo negativnog stava prema središnjoj vladi. Umjesto toga, ovaj razvoj dogaĎaja uglavnom je potaknut snaţnom ţeljom za većim sudjelovanjem graĎana i organizacije privatnog sektora u funkciji upravljanja. ; The term "centralization" began to be used in France in the late 18th century when, after the revolution, a new government structure was created. The term "decentralization" came into use in the early 19th century. The ideas of freedom and decentralization were implemented during the 19th and 20th centuries by anti-state political activists who called themselves "anarchists," "libertarians," and even decentralizers. Tocqueville, one of the proponents of decentralization, pointed out that decentralization has not only an administrative value but also a civic dimension, as it increases opportunities for citizens to take interest in public affairs. And from the accumulation of these local, active, insightful freedoms, the most effective counterbalance to central government is born, even if it were supported by an impersonal, collective will. A large number of developing and transition countries have embarked on some form of decentralization program. This trend is linked to the growing interest in the role of civil society and the private sector as partners to governments in seeking new ways of providing services. Decentralization of governance and strengthening the capacity of local government is partly a function of broader social trends, which include, for example, growing distrust of government, the collapse of some of the world's most centralized regimes (eg the Soviet Union) and emerging separatist demands that routinely emerge in some parts of the world. The movement towards local responsibility and greater control over one's destiny is not, however, the result of only a negative attitude towards the central government. Instead, this development is largely driven by a strong desire for greater citizen participation and private sector organization in the governance function.

Pojam "centralizacije" počeo se koristiti u Francuskoj krajem 18. stoljeća kada je nakon revolucije stvorena nova struktura vlade. Pojam "decentralizacije" u upotrebu je ušao početkom 19. stoljeća. Ideje slobode i decentralizacije provodili su tijekom 19. i 20. stoljeća protudrţavni politički aktivisti koji su sebe nazivali "anarhistima", "libertarijancima", pa čak i decentralistima. Tocqueville, jedan od zagovornika decentralizacije je istaknuo da decentralizacija ima ne samo administrativnu vrijednost već i graĎansku dimenziju, jer povećava mogućnosti za graĎane da se zainteresiraju za javne poslove. I od akumulacije tih lokalnih, aktivnih, pronicljivih sloboda, raĎa se najučinkovitija protuteţa središnjoj vladi, čak i ako bi bila podrţavana od neosobne, kolektivne volje. Veliki broj zemalja u razvoju i tranzicijskih zemalja započeo je neki oblik programa decentralizacije. Taj je trend povezan sa sve većim zanimanjem za ulogu civilnog društva i privatnog sektora kao partnera vladama u traţenju novih načina pruţanja usluga. Decentralizacija upravljanja i jačanje kapaciteta lokalne uprave dijelom je i funkcija širih društvenih trendova, što uključuje, na primjer, općenito rastuće nepovjerenje u vladu, propast nekih od najcentraliziranijih reţima na svijetu (npr. Sovjetskog Saveza) i novonastale separatističke zahtjeve koji se rutinski pojavljuju u pojedinim dijelovima svijeta. Pokret prema lokalnoj odgovornosti i većoj kontroli nad nečijom sudbinom nije, meĎutim, rezultat samo negativnog stava prema središnjoj vladi. Umjesto toga, ovaj razvoj dogaĎaja uglavnom je potaknut snaţnom ţeljom za većim sudjelovanjem graĎana i organizacije privatnog sektora u funkciji upravljanja. ; The term "centralization" began to be used in France in the late 18th century when, after the revolution, a new government structure was created. The term "decentralization" came into use in the early 19th century. The ideas of freedom and decentralization were implemented during the 19th and 20th centuries by anti-state political activists ...

Kvalitetna komunikacija eksternih revizora s upravljačkim strukturama od iznimne je važnosti za učinkovito poslovanje kreditnih institucija. Stoga se nameće pitanje može li se oblikovanjem modela odnosa eksternih revizora i upravljačkih struktura kreditne institucije unaprijediti rad eksterne revizije, s jedne strane te upravljačkih struktura kreditne institucije, s druge strane. Doprinos ovog istraživanja su: analiza kvalitete komuniciranja eksternih revizora s upravljačkim strukturama kreditne institucije i utjecaj kvalitete tih odnosa na učinkovitost eksterne revizije i upravljačkih struktura; analiza kvalitete komuniciranja eksternih revizora s revizijskim odborom kreditne institucije i utjecaj kvalitete tih odnosa na učinkovitost eksterne revizije i upravljačkih struktura, posebice nadzornog odbora; identifi ciranje je li neučinkovitost eksterne revizije povezana s otvaranjem stečajeva nad kreditnim institucijama i utvrđivanje pridonosi li predloženi model odnosa eksternih revizora i upravljačkih struktura kreditne institucije boljem radu eksterne revizije kao i boljem radu upravljačkih struktura kreditne institucije. U istraživanju, provedenom u Republici Hrvatskoj, sudjelovali su eksterni revizori koji obavljaju ili su obavljali reviziju godišnjih fi nancijskih izvještaja kreditnih institucija, članovi uprave i nadzornih odbora kreditnih institucija te stečajni upravitelji i stručno osoblje kreditnih institucija u stečaju. Rezultati empirijskog istraživanja potvrđuju kako testirani komunikacijski model pridonosi učinkovitijem radu eksterne revizije i upravljačkih struktura kreditne institucije. ; Quality communication of external auditors with governance structures is of paramount importance for the efficient operation of credit institutions. Therefore, the question arises as to whether the formation of a model for the relationship of external auditors and the governance structures of a credit institution can enhance the work of an external audit, on the one hand, and the governance structures of a credit institution, on the other. The contribution of this research is: an analysis of the quality of external auditors' communication with the credit institution's governance structures and the impact of the quality of these relationships on the effectiveness of external audit and governance structures; an analysis of the quality of external auditors' communication with the credit institution's audit committee and the impact of the quality of those relationships on the effectiveness of the external audit and governance structures, in particular the supervisory board; identifying whether external audit inefficiencies are related to the opening of bankruptcies of credit institutions and determining whether the proposed model of relations between the external auditors and the credit institution's governance structures contributes to the better work of the external audit and to the better functioning of the credit institution's governance structures. The survey, conducted in the Republic of Croatia, involved external auditors that are or were auditing the annual financial statements of credit institutions, members of the management and supervisory boards of credit institutions, and insolvency office holders and professional staff of credit institutions in bankruptcy. The results of the empirical study confirm that the tested communication model contributes to a more efficient operation of the credit institution's external audit and governance structures.

The article focuses on the theoretical and practical analysis of various levels of governance in higher education - at the systemic level, at the institutional level and at the level of public policy making in higher education system and universities. Both Poland and Ukraine are facing the common challenges of the urgent need to diminish bureaucracy at universities and to deregulate the system of higher education, which requires the necessary changes to the legal framework at the institutional and systemic levels. The article considers which tools in the process of transformation of higher education, both at the macro (governance in HES and public policy) and micro (governance and management in HEI) levels can be used in order to find effective solutions in the areas of management, governance and public policy in the higher education system. ; Artykuł poświęcony analizie teoretycznej oraz praktycznej różnych poziomów rządzenia (governance) w szkolnictwie wyższym - na poziomie systemowym, instytucyjnym i na poziomie polityki państwa wobec systemu szkolnictwa wyższego oraz uniwersytetów. Zarówno Polska, jak i Ukraina stają wobec wspólnego wyzwania konieczności odbiurokratyzowania działania uczelni i deregulacji systemu szkolnictwa wyższego, co wymaga niezbędnych zmian reguł ładu instytucjonalnego i systemowego. W artykule pokazano, jakie narzędzia w procesie transformacji szkolnictwa wyższego zarówno na poziomie makro (governance in HES i polityka publiczna), jak i mikro (governance i management in HEI) mogą być wykorzystane w celu podejmowania skutecznych rozwiązań w obszarach: zarządzanie, governance i polityka publiczna w systemie szkolnictwa wyższego.

The problem examined in the paper is part of a broader reflection on public governance, especially in its territorial dimension. The author focuses mainly on the modernisation of the public sector in Poland and the world with regard to the principles of participatory democracy as evidenced by the practice of urban governance. In particular, the author focuses on one of the tools that stimulate participation, i.e. participatory budgeting, which has recently resulted in a breakthrough trend in institutional practice and which can be regarded as an innovation in public governance. The aim of the paper is to examine the impact of the implementation of participatory budgeting on governance in selected Polish cities. The whole analysis is carried out in the context of normative assumptions and the analysed problem highlights the question of the standards of good public governance, which should be respected at the local level. The paradigm adopted by the author reflects the call for the "right to the city for the citizens," i.e. an approach whereby cities should develop not only in order to support the economy but also to be able to meet people's aspirations to a better quality of life.

Pitanje prave mjere decentralizacije unutar Grada Zagreba analizira se u širem okviru. Ističe se decentralizacija kao jedan od temeljnih reformskih procesa u suvremenim političko-upravljačkim sustavima europskih zemalja. No, decentralizacija nije jedini proces koji utječe na formiranje dobrih standarda upravljanja gradovima: nužno je uzeti u obzir i doktrinu dobrog upravljanja, koju podupire Europska unija, niz drugih međunarodnih organizacija, ali i sve veći broj zemalja. U ostvarenju standarda dobrog gradskog upravljanja razmatra se uloga mjesne samouprave u Hrvatskoj, a napose u velikim gradovima i Gradu Zagrebu. Upozorava se da osnivanje preko dvije stotine mjesnih odbora kao zasebnih pravnih osoba vodi prema fragmentaciji Grada Zagreba i bitno otežava ili čak i onemogućuje integrirano gradsko upravljanje i smisleno rješavanje urbanih i upravljačkih problema. ; The issue of adequate decentralisation within the City of Zagreb is analysed in the broader frame. Decentralisation is one of the main reform processes of the current governance system in European countries. However, decentralisation is not the only process that influences the standards of good urban governance. Good governance doctrine, supported and implemented in the European Union, many other international organisations, and increasing number of countries world-wide, should be taken into consideration as well. The role of territorial selfgovernment below municipal level in implementation of good urban governance standards in Croatia, especially within large cities and the City of Zagreb, is discussed. It should be emphasised that establishing more than two hundred of territorial committees as separate and full legal entities can cause managerial fragmentation in the City of Zagreb and hinder or even impede integral urban management and sound solving of numerous urban and managerial problems.

The article discusses current dilemmas of the European Union policy with regard to the development of competitive and low emission transport in the context of good governance principles. The first part discusses selected assumptions of the idea of public governance reflected in the EU transport policy. Then the current degree of development of the EU transport was assessed. The assessment of consequences of increased demand for transport confirmed the need to efficiently deliver on the strategy for the development of low emission transport. It is also stressed that the implementation of the assumptions of the public governance idea may be seen as an innovative solution in managing a complex network of ties and coordination of policies at different levels and support the shift towards low emission, circular economy model in transport. However, attention has been paid to the need to continue studies on the assessment of efficiency and effectiveness of good governance principles. ; Artykuł jest poświęcony prezentacji aktualnych dylematów polityki Unii Europejskiej dotyczących rozwoju konkurencyjnego i niskoemisyjnego transportu w kontekście realizacji zasad dobrego rządzenia (good governance). W pierwszej części artykułu omówiono wybrane założenia koncepcji współrządzenia (public governance), mające odzwierciedlenie w polityce transportowej Unii Europejskiej. Następnie dokonano oceny obecnego stanu rozwoju transportu Unii Europejskiej. Ocena konsekwencji wzrostu popytu na transport potwierdziła potrzebę efektywnej realizacji strategii na rzecz rozwoju niskoemisyjnego transportu. Podkreślono, że wdrażanie założeń koncepcji public governance może stanowić nowatorskie rozwiązanie w zakresie zarządzania skomplikowaną siecią powiązań i koordynacji polityk na wszystkich szczeblach, wspierając przejście transportu do modelu gospodarki niskoemisyjnej o obiegu zamkniętym. Zwrócono jednak uwagę na potrzebę kontynuacji badań nad oceną skuteczności i efektywności realizacji zasad good governance.

The paper offers a case study of the Marianske Lazne administration as an example of the New Public Governance (NPG) approach ed in the Czech Republic. The focus is on the particular pillars representing the features of NPG. Until now, five months after the general election, the particular attention of the Pirate Party on the determinants of NPG objectives could be observed through: making all meetings of the board's expert commissions accessible for the general public; publishing all documents discussed by the town's council on the internet; making all the town's banking accounts transparent; creating a department of internal audit separated from the rest of the administration; granting the status of a permanent guest at the board's meetings to a representative of the opposition; doubling the frequency of the council's meetings; preparing new rules of procedure facilitating the participation of citizens in the council's meetings; strengthening the communication channels between the council on the one hand and the chairpersons of expert commissions and directors of municipal organisations on the other; cancelling the positions with unclear benefits for the town; and making the rules of using municipal funds more transparent. There are still mo re evident measures expected in the areas of the second and third pillars of the Pirates' program, that is the provision of quality services for citizens and vicular and the positive development of tfie town's spa industry.

Analizira se koncept dobre vladavine, počevši od razloga koji su doveli do njegova razvoja, temeljnih značajki i mogućnosti utjecaja na reformske pristupe kojima je cilj dosezanje kvalitetne suvremene vladavine. Najprije se analiziraju različita shvaćanja i razvojne karakteristike koncepta vladavine, zaključno sa suvremenom konceptualizacijom koja se u radu povezuje s učincima menadžerskih reformi javne uprave i procesom globalizacije, a koja stremi iznalaženju modela koji bi omogućio šire uključivanje građana i civilnog društva te istodobno djelotvornost u radu javne uprave kao preduvjet ekonomskog i društvenog razvoja. U tu se svrhu posebno analiziraju načela dobre vladavine iznesena u "Bijeloj knjizi europske vladavine" uz početnu pretpostavku da su ona prisutna u očekivanjima ispunjenja političkih, ekonomskih i institucionalnih, tzv. kopenhaških kriterija za pridruživanje Europskoj uniji. U radu se jačanje upravnih kapaciteta, utvrđivanje načela uz pomoć kojih se može ocijeniti kvaliteta suvremene vladavine i šire uključivanje civilnog društva identificiraju kao temeljna obilježja različitih pristupa dobroj vladavini. ; The concept of good governance is analyzed with particular emphasis on reasons that contributed to its development, main characteristics and possible impact on reform approaches which aim at achieving quality of contemporary governance. Different conceptions and developmental characteristics of governance are firstly examined, concluding with contemporary conceptualization that tends to widely engage citizens and civil society in the decision-making process, and at the same time accomplish greater effectiveness of public services as a precondition to economic and social development. According to findings presented in this article, this modern approach to the study of governance is in close connection with the effects of managerial reforms and the globalization process. Good governance principles introduced in the European Commission's document "European Governance – A White Paper" are especially focused on. The research's starting assumption was that those principles derive from the so-called Copenhagen criteria, or political, economic and institutional conditions for membership in the European Union. The article identifies three main characteristics of different approaches to the concept of good governance: strengthening of administrative capacities, determination of principles which should contribute to the quality of contemporary governance assessment, and wider engagement of and consultation with the civil society.

In a relatively short time the Internet has become one of the main and the most important media of our times. The increasing number of users, as well as the growth of its role and importance in almost every aspect of social and economic life have led in recent years to the intensification of the discussion on the future of the Internet and the way it should be governed. From the very beginning the Internet developed bottom-up without a decision-making center responsible for its development. There are many organizations in the world operating at local, regional and global levels, that focus on different aspects of its operation and development. This process called "Internet governance" is the process within which governments, information and communication technology (ICT) companies and civil society work together to set standards, values, norms and decisions that shape the way we use the World Wide Web. This article attempts to explain this phenomenon, shows the origins of the dispute between the supporters of the multistakeholder model of the Internet governance. It also presents the proposals of some states to strengthen the role of governments in this process and presents the position of the European Union, which in this discussion may play a key role as a mediator in the debate about the future of the Internet governance. ; Internet w stosunkowo krótkim czasie stał się jednym z głównych i najistotniejszych mediów naszych czasów. Wzrastająca liczba jego użytkowników, jak również wzrost jego roli i znaczenia w niemalże każdym aspekcie życia społeczno-gospodarczego spowodowały w ostatnich latach nasilenie się dyskusji na temat przyszłości internetu i sposobu w jaki powinien być zarządzany. Internet od samego początku rozwijał się oddolnie bez centralnego ośrodka decyzyjnego. Na świecie funkcjonuje wiele organizacji działających na poziomie lokalnym, regionalnym i globalnym, które skupiają się na różnych aspektach jego działania i rozwoju. Proces nazywany "zarządzanie Internetem" (Internet Governance), to proces, w którym rządy, przedsiębiorstwa z branży technologii informacyjnych i komunikacyjnych oraz społeczeństwo obywatelskie wspólnie wypracowują standardy, wartości, normy i decyzje, które kształtują sposób, w jaki użytkowana jest sieć. Niniejszy artykuł podejmuje próbę wyjaśnienia tego zjawiska, przedstawia genezę sporu pomiędzy zwolennikami wielostronnego modelu zarządzania internetem oraz państwami postulującymi wzmocnienie roli rządów w tym procesie oraz prezentuje stanowisko Unii Europejskiej, która może w tej dyskusji odegrać kluczową rolę stając się mediatorem w debacie o przyszłym modelu zarządzania internetem.

The article presents the way that governance has formed in Poland after winning the independence in 1918. It also includes the discussion on first legal acts with institutional meaning such as decree law dated on 22nd November 1918 about the supreme representative authority of the Republic of Poland and the act of Parliament's ordinance of 20th February 1919 entrusting Józef Piłsudski with further execution of the office of Chief of state. These documents became the basis for reborn country and enabled to rebuild institutions in historically difficult period. In the opinion of author, the experiences of first years of independence had ultimatelly influenced the solutions that were adapted in so called March Constitution from the year of 1921. ; Artykuł przedstawia kształtowanie się systemu rządów w Polsce po odzyskaniu niepodległości w 1918 r., w tym pierwsze akty prawne o znaczeniu ustrojowym – dekret z 22 listopada 1918 r. o najwyższej władzy reprezentacyjnej Republiki Polskiej oraz uchwałę Sejmu Ustawodawczego z 20 lutego 1919 r. o powierzeniu Józefowi Piłsudskiemu dalszego sprawowania urzędu Naczelnika Państwa. Stały się one podstawą funkcjonowania odrodzonego państwa polskiego, umożliwiając w trudnym okresie historycznym odbudowę państwowości. Zdaniem Autorki doświadczenia pierwszych lat niepodległości wpłynęły ostatecznie na rozwiązania, które przyjęto w tzw. Konstytucji marcowej z 1921.

This paper is a short commentary on Elinor Ostrom's criticism of 'The Tradegy of Commons', which is part of her research on Common Pool Resources (CPR) institutions. She delivered an institutional theory of Common Pool Resources governance and also seriously undermined so called social paradoxes, as Olsons' logic of collective action or prisoners dilemma as a model of social situations. The core of these social paradoxes and Garett Hardin's Tragedy of Commons respectively, is an assumption of rational choice taken by an isolated, selfish and egoistic individual. In Ostroms opinion such theories are not really wrong, but are very special cases in the World of interpersonal communication, customs and institutions. Ostrom has developed an institutional analysis of CPR governance and formulated basic rules of a good and durable CPR Institution. Ostroms' works takes account of both laissez-faire and centralized, government-run allocation as the wrong approach toward management of the Commons. These analyses seem useful in Poland, where nowadays CPR governance is highly centralized.

Globalization undoubtedly is one of modern processes which lay foundations for most significant changes to contemporary societies. Social, economic and political phenomena, undergoing within nation-states and independently on them, have become a part of the network of global concerns and relations that the states are able to control no more than in a limited sense. In terms of localness the phenomenon is reflected in the processes of metropolization of urban agglomerations which form their own unique systems of governance. In doing so, they become distinctive laboratories of new forms of government and democracy. The increasing inadequacy of the territorial structure of the state and its institutional systems in terms of network systems and multilevel relations that form new and functional living space for contemporary man are responsible for initiating reforms in states. However, the process of those changes does not go automatically, and it most often stands for a confrontation of the global system imperatives with values, norms and institutions deeply rooted in social structure and shaped in the Westphalian era. Therefore, the search for wise answers to global challenges abounds in diverse results, an example of which may be seen in hybrid territorial units in France which are concomitant with the specific forms of governance that are formed within. Despite the fact that the book deals with French status quo in the main, it touches upon universal issues which concern challenges that modern democratic nation-states have to meet. The book addresses all researchers of contemporary times, who make an attempt to come to deeper understanding of the changes that a modern state and democracy have to face in times when the global system is being shaped. Unique is the fact that this book transcends theoretical digressions being at the same time embedded in the context of a particular society. The conclusions are based on an extensive empirical sources that the author of this book collected while conducting his research in France, where he had the honor of running discussions with French eminent scholars, politicians and people engaged in self-government. According to the reviewer of the book, professor Kazimierz Z. Sowa: "The collected research material presents itself as very interesting and valuable one; additionally its research method makes it a sui generis source of information. [.] The results provide us with a solid amount of knowledge about modern France whose problems go beyond the present ones."