The Palgrave Handbook of Decentralisation in Europe [electronic resource] /
Ruano, José Manuel.editor.
Profiroiu, Marius.editor.
This handbook provides an authoritative study of European decentralisation, taking into account, from a territorial perspective, the different political and administrative traditions in Europe (Continental, Anglo-Saxon and Ex-communist States) and the cleavages North-South and East-West. While in recent decades most European countries have implemented devolution policies trying to tackle different political, social or bureaucratic problems, some others have instead regionalised their territory, applied federal or pseudo-federal reforms and strengthened the role of subnational governments. This volume analyses decentralisation in these countries using different variables including history, territorial organisation, civil service and financing, and reveals how this phenomenon leads to complex intergovernmental linkages. The evolution of territorial decentralisation, the political tensions between centre and periphery, the autonomy of the subnational governments and their functions and competences, the tools of co-ordination and co-operation, and the features and role of civil service are the main issues studied here with an interdisciplinary approach.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Introduction; Robert Savy, Hélène Pauliat, Michel Sénimon -- Birds of the Same Feather: Federalism and Decentralisation in Germany; Dominic Heinz -- Federalism and Decentralisation in Belgium; Jean-François Husson, Céline Mahieu, Caroline Sägesser -- Functional Federalism in a Complex State. The Case of Spain; José M. Ruano -- Constitutional Reform and Territorial Organisation in Italy; Giuseppe Bettoni -- Fragmentation and Central Control : Competing Forces in a Disunited Kingdom; June Burnham -- Decentralisation in France: a Principle in Permanent Evolution; Agnès Sauviat -- The Irish Case: Decentralisation-lite?; Dr. Bríd Quinn -- Decentralisation in the Netherlands. This handbook provides an authoritative study of European decentralisation, taking into account, from a territorial perspective, the different political and administrative traditions in Europe (Continental, Anglo-Saxon and Ex-communist States) and the cleavages North-South and East-West. While in recent decades most European countries have implemented devolution policies trying to tackle different political, social or bureaucratic problems, some others have instead regionalised their territory, applied federal or pseudo-federal reforms and strengthened the role of subnational governments. This volume analyses decentralisation in these countries using different variables including history, territorial organisation, civil service and financing, and reveals how this phenomenon leads to complex intergovernmental linkages. The evolution of territorial decentralisation, the political tensions between centre and periphery, the autonomy of the subnational governments and their functions and competences, the tools of co-ordination and co-operation, and the features and role of civil service are the main issues studied here with an interdisciplinary approach.
Europe-Politics and government.
Regionalism.
Comparative politics.
European Politics.
Regionalism.
Comparative Politics.