Local Government Reforms Compared - Einzelansicht

The course imparts knowledge about local government systems and administrative modernization, particularly at the sub-national level of government, from a cross-country-comparative perspective. Students receive an overview of the institutional structures, the functional responsibilities and the decision-making processes at the local level of government as well as on pertinent conceptual approaches to study comparative local government. Moreover, the course enables students to analyze various reform concepts and results. These include institutional reforms in the multi-level system as well as reforms in service delivery, management and the organization of sub-national administrations. Have the reforms left behind lasting traces in the direction of a new managerial (NPM-)administration? Has a paradigm shift from the ”Weberian” bureaucracy to the New Public Management occurred so far? Can we also observe unintended consequences of reform or even a re-emergence of the ”Weberian” administration? We will also focus on territorial and functional reforms (decentralization, de-concentration, amalgamation, cooperation, shared services) and participatory reforms, such as the introduction of direct democracy (referenda, direct election of the mayors) and other instruments of citizen involvement (consultation, ”user democracy” etc.). The seminar will take place partly on site and partly as asynchronous online course (Zoom and Moodle).

This seminar will partly take place in digital form. We rely on the learning platform Moodle as the central contact point, where we'll provide information, materials, tasks etc. The infrastructure for questions and submissions of all kinds are also provided on Moodle. The access information for this course will be sent to all students enrolled on PULS for the course by email during the first week of the semester (25.10.-29.10.21). If you are interested in this course, please register here on PULS! You'll be able to deregister again if you don't want to participate in the end.