Local Democracy and the Processes of Transformation in East-Central Europe

This book focuses on one particular aspect of the post-communist transformations in the East-Central European countries. In studying the local government reforms, it evaluates achievements with the traditional yardsticks for local government performance: democracy, efficiency, and autonomy.

Preface -- Local Democracy: The Challenges of Institution-Building -- New Institutions of Local Government: A Comparison -- Political Culture and Citizen Involvement -- Elites and Parties -- Policies: Privatizing, Defending the Local Welfare State, or Wishful Thinking? -- Functions of the Executive: Power, Leadership, and Management -- Virtuous Circles: Local Democracy in a Post-Communist Environment

Baldersheim, Harald