Subnational Democracy in the European Union

Challenges and Opportunities

John Loughlin

Well received and reviewed in hardback
Deals with hot topics such as European integration, and the changing nature of the nation state
Offers a collection of innovative approaches to improving regional and local democracy across the EU

Subnational Democracy in the European Union

Challenges and Opportunities

John Loughlin

Description

This book is the result of a research project carried out for the Committee of the Regions and analyses the 'state of play' of democratic practice at the subnational level in all of the European Member states. Its initial hypothesis was that liberal democracy is closely associated with the rise of the nation state in the 19th century. The nation state, however, has been significantly changing under the impact of various forces including globalization and regionalization, internal reforms of the public administration system such as privatization and deregulation, and the emergence of regions and local authorities as actors in their own rights. these changes pose challenges for the practice of democracy and, in particular, for its expression at the regional and local level.

The book deals with the theoretical implications of these changes in terms of the changing nature of the state and new regionalism. However, one of the key findings is that there is no one uniform meaning of democracy across member states and there are variations even within a single state depending on whether the national or subnational levels are considered.

Each country chapter gives the historical and philosophical background to the concept of democracy in each country. There is also an exposition of the institutional expression of democracy at the different levels. With regard to the practice of democracy at the subnational level, the role of pressure groups and policy networks is examined as well as the role of political parties. There is a survey of critiques of subnational democracy. Finally, there is a survey of innovative approaches to improving regional and local democracy through a variety of mechanisms and reforms as ways of responding to the challenge and opportunities facing it today

Subnational Democracy in the European Union

Challenges and Opportunities

John Loughlin

Notes on Contributors
List of Tables
List of Figures
1: Introduction: The Transformation of the Democratic State in Western Europe, John Loughlin
Part 1: The Anglo-Saxon Tradition
2: The United Kingdom: From Hypercentralization to Devolution, John Loughlin
3: Ireland: From Colonized Nation to 'Celtic Tiger', John Loughlin
Part 2: The Germanic Tradition
4: Germany: Federalism under Strain, Udo Bullmann
5: Austria: The End of Proportional Government?, Udo Bullmann
6: The Netherlands: Reinventing Tradition in Local and Regional Democracy, Frank Hendriks
7: Luxembourg: Change and Continuities in the Local State, Frank Hendriks
Part 3: The Napoleonic Tradition
8: France: Between Centralization and Fragmentation, John Loughlin and Daniel-L. Seiler
9: Italy: The Crisis of the Second Republic, John Loughlin
10: Spain: Nation, Nationalities, and Regions, Eliseo Aja
11: Portugal: The Difficulties of Regionalization, John Loughlin
12: Greece: Between 'Henosis and Decentralization, John Loughlin
13: Belgium: Federalism and Subnational Democracy in a Divided Country, Frank Hendriks
Part 4: The Scandinavian Tradition
14: Sweden: The End of the 'Swedish Model'?, Anders Lidström
15: Denmark: Between Scandinavian Democracy and Neo-Liberalism, Anders Lidström
16: Finland: Geo-Political Changes and Europeanization, Anders Lidström
Part 5: Conclusions
17: Conclusions: The Transformation of Regional and Local Democracy in Western Europe, John Loughlin
Index

Subnational Democracy in the European Union

Challenges and Opportunities

John Loughlin

Author Information

John Loughlin, Professor of European Politics, Cardiff University

Contributors:

Eliseo Aja, University of Barcelona, Spain
Udo Bullmann, University of Giessen, Germany
Frank Hendriks, Tilburg University, Netherlands
Anders Lidström, Umeå University, Sweden
John Loughlin, Cardiff University
Daniel-L. Seiler, University of Bordeaux

Subnational Democracy in the European Union

Challenges and Opportunities

John Loughlin

Reviews and Awards

Review from previous edition ... the book contains a wealth of material and is certain to prove a handy source of reference... An intriguing thesis which makes a timely contribution to the debate. - Journal of Common Market Studies

This book is of great value for all those interested in further research on the development of subnational democracy in the ongoing process of European integration. In addition, it can be used as a comparative introduction to regional and local politics in Europe - Regional and Federal Studies

.. the nation-state is [being] significantly transformed, this ... is a challenge to representative democracy. ... not so much has been written about the consequences for democracy at the subnational level. [This] book makes an important contribution to filling this gap and is both very interesting and very useful as a text for courses on comparative politics and administration. - Public Administration

The chapters are all informative and well written - and provide a valuable introduction to each of the systems covered. It will make interesting reading for all those interested in regional and local government - in Europe and beyond - and will certainly be useful in undergraduate teaching on European politics. - Paolo Dardanelli, University of Kent

... this book will be a useful reference work for teachers and students of politics and political geography, and for those with an interest in the role of governance structures in regional and local development. - Regional Studies