Preliminary communication

European Experiences in Urban Decentralisation of Large Cities

Stjepan Ivanišević ; retired full professor of administrative science at the Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb

Abstract

Urban decentralisation of large European cities started in the second half of the 20th century. It has threefold purpose: recognition of citizens’ different interests in different parts of a city, increasing participation of citizens in public affairs, and reducing bureaucratic malfunctioning of city bodies. Urban decentralisation has been analysed with regard to German, Italian, French, British, and Swedish cities,
as well as with regard to the Baltic, Middle-European and Balkan cities.
There is not a single, unified European model of urban decentralisation. The tendency is to establish one level of sub-municipal institutions. Sub-municipal self-government is stronger if its bodies have its own political legitimacy gained at separate elections and its own and effective competences. If so, city governance could benefit from it a lot, particularly with regard to the quality of decisions and citizens’ support.

Keywords

large cities; management of large cities; urban decentralisation; local self-government; sub-municipal self-government

Hrčak ID:

135572

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/135572

Publication date:

5.6.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 2.929 *