Puzzles of local democracy

Abstract

European local democracies are objects of sharp public criticism. Politicians, commentators and media describe the alienation of citizens, the low voter turnout, the declining interest in politics and public affairs, the weakness of the representative bodies, and the dominance of the executive and/or the bureaucracy. At the same time, however, we observe signs of a growing interest in societal issues and of an increase of political participation outside the area of institutional politics (for example: Tarrow 2000). Also notions of social capital, social cohesion, governance and participatory and direct forms of democracy suggest a growing awareness of this process of change in political styles and orientations. In the daily life of local democracies in many European countries all kinds of expressions of this awareness can be observed. Quite a number of local authorities respond to this changing orientation among citizens by experimenting with new or additional forms of democracy.