Hierarchy or Participation?Government or Governance?Theoretical Issues of Local Democracy
Hierarchy or Participation?Government or Governance?Theoretical Issues of Local Democracy

Summary/Abstract: In the past decades, the traditional, hierarchical formalised structure of local government has ceased to function effi ciently. Local communities have generated new, diversifi ed needs, therefore the number of challenges and their complexity has been growing. Additionally, the authorities have had to compete with other units of local government (vertically and horizontally). Local policy, with limited material and organisational resources, based only on local government, has not been able to fulfi l its tasks eff ectively and effi ciently. It is necessary to break this monopoly and to allow local community institutions the decision-making and implementation process. Th us, a departure from hierarchy towards partnership and participation has taken place, from government to governance. At the same time, by achieving the synergy eff ect, the eff ect of mutual actions has exceed the eff ects which could be achieved acting individually. Th e added value is that the civil society has been created by stricter integration of local communities.

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